DEFENCE

Devolved Administrations

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is with regard to (a) Ministers And (b) officials in his Department giving evidence to (i) Scottish Parliament, (ii) Welsh Assembly and (iii) Northern Ireland Assembly committees; and to what categories of document he gives (A) full access, (B) restricted access and (C) no access to (1) Scottish parliament, (2) Welsh Assembly, (3) Northern Ireland Assembly and (4) House of Commons Select committees.

Lewis Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 15 October 2001, Official Report, columns 1003–05W.

Aircraft Carriers

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on bringing forward the programme for the new aircraft carriers.

Lewis Moonie: It would be imprudent to bring forward significantly the programme to build the two new aircraft carriers, especially given their size and complexity. Time spent now in assessing the developing designs, in step with decisions on the aircraft to be operated from the ships (including the Future Joint Combat Aircraft and the Future Organic Airborne Early Warning Aircraft) will allow us to optimise the design of the ship so that it best meets our future operational requirements. This assessment phase is due to complete in 2003, and the planned In Service Dates of the two carriers remain 2012 and 2015.

Shipbuilding

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what action his Department is taking to ensure sub-contracting work for the alternative ships logistics to be built on the Rivers Tyne and Clyde is awarded to United Kingdom companies; [R]
	(2)  what proportion of the contract value of the alternative landing ships logistics to be built by Swan Hunters on Tyneside will be placed with north-east companies; and if he will list all United Kingdom and overseas subcontractors scheduled to receive orders of £500,000 and above. [R]

Lewis Moonie: The Department's contract with Swan Hunter requires the company to maximise the use of competition when awarding sub-contracts for the build of the Alternative Landing Ships Logistic. However, the final choice of supplier must rest with Swan Hunter as the prime contractor. It is up to prospective UK suppliers to submit competitively priced bids to the prime contractor for equipment that meets the Ministry of Defence's requirements.
	Swan Hunter has so far placed only a small number of sub-contracts. While Swan Hunter has indicated that most sub-contract work is likely to be placed with UK companies, it is too early to say how much work will be placed with companies in the north-east.
	Negotiations are under way for the contract with BAE Systems Marine, Govan. The same conditions will apply to the sub-contract for the BAE Systems' vessel once a contract is agreed.

Technology Readiness and Risk Assessment Programme

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the development of the Technology Readiness and Risk Assessment Programme; and if he will place a copy of an unclassified version in the Library.

Geoff Hoon: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 31 October 2001, Official Report, column 661W, to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin).

Type 45 Frigates

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions the Government have undertaken with the United States regarding the possible use of type 45 frigates as part of the USA's plan to develop a missile defence to protect the US and its allies.

Geoff Hoon: None.

Light Armoured Vehicle

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the need for a light armoured vehicle for the armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The lessons we have learned from recent operations have shown that the procurement priorities we set out in the Strategic Defence Review, and its overall focus, were broadly correct. We keep these priorities under review. As part of this we have considered the capability which can be offered by light armoured vehicles, and we assess that they will contribute importantly to our forces' ability to react rapidly to global events. I set out how we currently intend to deliver this capability in my answer to the hon. Member on 26 October 2001, Official Report, column 406W.

Swift Sword II

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if units have adequate fresh rations for the purposes of Swift Sword II; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: All forces deployed on Saif Sareea II had adequate fresh rations. Rations were scaled to provide five days fresh and two days Operational Ration Packs (ORP) in each seven day period with the ORP being consumed during training phases. The provision of rations on the exercise has proved extremely efficient and feedback from the forces and unit commanders has been positive.

Future Carrier Programme

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will make a down select decision on the Future Carrier Programme; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 30 October 2001
	We are currently in discussions about the CVF procurement strategy with both candidate prime contractors, BAE Systems and Thales Naval Ltd. We hope to be in a position to make an announcement about the way forward in the next few weeks.

Afghanistan

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effects of the use of cluster bombs in Afghanistan; and how many of these have been used in the conflict.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 30 October 2001
	Cluster bombs are the most effective weapon against certain targets and, while that remains the case, they will continue to be used in Afghanistan. As at 29 October, coalition forces had used cluster bombs against five targets: one terrorist camp and four Taliban military installations.

Afghanistan

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his most recent estimate is of the cost to the United Kingdom of the military action in Afghanistan; what estimate he has made of the weekly cost to the UK of (a) current and (b) planned deployment; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 23 October 2001, Official Report, column 114W.

Afghanistan

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what modifications are required to be made to British helicopters in order to enable them to undertake operations in Afghan air space.

Geoff Hoon: Equipment deployed by UK armed forces on operations is modified as necessary to perform in the environment in which it is used.

Hawk Aircraft

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the sale of Hawk aircraft to India; when he expects contracts to be signed; what other medium to long-term prospects he has identified for overseas sales of Hawk aircraft; and what discussions he has had with BAE Systems at Brough on the implications for employment at the plant of sales of Hawk aircraft.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 31 October 2001
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 29 October 2001, Official Report, column 626, to the right hon. Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack). Progress with commercial negotiations is a matter for the company and the Indian Government. The Ministry of Defence maintains contact with BAE Systems on employment at Brough relating to sales of Hawk. The Government will continue to support BAE Systems in whatever way we can with the promotion of this first class aircraft in appropriate markets.

Hawk Aircraft

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to advancing an order for Hawk 127s as part of the RAF's Military Flying Training System.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 31 October 2001
	We are closely examining our future flying training needs with a view to putting in place a system that will meet the needs of all three Services. We will give full consideration to purchasing Hawk 127 but this will be part of an analysis of all available options.

Body Armour

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much Kevlar is stocked by British manufacturers of body armour; where Kevlar is manufactured; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 31 October 2001
	Kevlar is a Dupont Commercial brand name for one product line associated with the Aramid family of materials. Information on the total quantity of Aramid materials held commercially is not available to the Ministry of Defence as the companies concerned consider it Commercial in Confidence. Recent inquiries of these firms have however, indicated that they have sufficient stocks available to meet the MOD's requirements.
	Kevlar supplied to British manufacturers of body armour is manufactured by Dupont at their facility in Northern Ireland.

Body Armour

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the tendering companies for body armour are British-based.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 31 October 2001
	On the last tender exercise for body armour, all of the five companies invited to tender were British-based.

Body Armour

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if body armour can be constructed of materials other than Kevlar.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 31 October 2001
	Yes. Kevlar is a Dupont commercial brand name for one product line of the Aramid family of materials. Other manufacturing companies make their own Aramid fibres, for instance Twaron. Materials other than Aramids can be used for ballistic protection but have cost, weight and/or bulk limitations, which could affect individual performance.

Body Armour

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many suits of body armour are on order by his Department; and what estimate he has made of the need for body armour in view of land operations in Afghanistan.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 31 October 2001
	There are no orders currently outstanding for body armour within the Department. There are currently sufficient stocks of body armour available to meet current planned deployments.

Body Armour

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what tenders are open for the supply of body armour; when they will be concluded; and how many companies he expects to tender.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 31 October 2001
	One tender exercise is currently on-going for the supply of a sample quantity of body armour fillers and plates. Once these samples have been evaluated, Invitations to Tender will be issued to up to five UK-based companies within the next month.

Eurofighter Typhoon

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how he will provide the cockpit training environment needed to train pilots for the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 31 October 2001
	We intend that pilots should undertake both simulated training, provided as part of the Eurofighter Aircrew Synthetic Training Aids (ASTA) project, and live airborne training in two-seat and single-seat Eurofighter aircraft. A single source collaborative development, production and in-service support contract for ASTA was placed in April this year with Eurofighter GmbH, who will also provide the aircraft to be used for training.

FADEC System

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was (a) the mean time between failure rate of the FADEC system on the Chinook Mk2 in its first year of operational service and (b) the target figure agreed with the manufacturer; if his Department's contract with Textron Lycoming included a reliability warranty for the FADEC system; if this was met; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Ministry of Defence Police

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on (a) the reasons for and (b) the circumstances relating to the departure of the deputy head of the Ministry of Defence Police.

Lewis Moonie: The contract of Mr. Tony Comben as Deputy Chief Constable of the Ministry of Defence Police was terminated on Wednesday 24 October 2001. I am withholding the reasons for his departure under Exemption 8 (Public Employment) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Mr. Comben's departure was completely unrelated to complaints against him from members of the public, currently being investigated.

Combat Effectiveness Gender Study

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Combat Effectiveness Gender Study will be published.

Geoff Hoon: I am currently considering the conclusions of a review on the employment of women in the armed forces and will make a further statement in due course.

Departmental Staff

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the number of staff employed by his Department by region and nation of the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 15 October 2001, Official Report, columns 1009–12W to the Member for North Tayside (Pete Wishart).

Porton Down

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what biological or biologically derived samples have been supplied by the Defence and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down to (a) USA, (b) France, (c) Belgium, (d) Sweden, (e) Australia, (f) Germany, (g) Austria, (h) Spain, (i) Netherlands, (j) Norway, (k) Italy, (l) Japan and (m) Canada since 1990.

Lewis Moonie: Since 1990 the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down has supplied in excess of one hundred biological or biologically derived materials to these countries for medical and veterinary research purposes.
	The majority of this material has been supplied under International Collaboration Research agreements relating to biological detection capability and potential medical countermeasures. However, it would not be appropriate to publish a list of the biological material supplied to these countries as this could reveal operational capabilities and deficiencies. I am therefore withholding this information in the interests of National Security under category 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Batch Two Frigates

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the costings are for the Romanian acquisition of the two ex-Royal Navy 22 Batch Two frigates; how much the reactivation, refits training and long-term support package will cost; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Negotiations concerning the disposal of ex-Ministry of Defence equipment involve matters of commercial and customer confidentiality. I am therefore withholding the information under Exemption 1 and 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Cluster Bombs

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to recommend a ban on the manufacture of cluster bombs by UK companies.

Geoff Hoon: There are no plans to recommend a ban on the manufacture of cluster bombs by UK companies.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Parliamentary Questions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she will answer the question tabled by the hon. Member for Yeovil on 20 July [ref. 422].

Hilary Benn: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development replied to the hon. Member in her letter dated 1 October; a copy was placed in the Library of the House.

Cheap Medicines

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations (a) her Department made to the Department of Trade and Industry and (b) she will make to the WTO Summit on providing developing countries with access to cheap medicines.

Clare Short: We work closely with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) among others on access to medicines. The UK Government are working with the European Union and others to ensure that the WTO's existing rules on intellectual property help developing countries gain access to medicine. This means making sure that new medicines are developed while at the same time allowing developing countries to take appropriate measures to protect public health in national emergencies.
	Intellectual property rights need to be part of wider action to address the problems facing developing countries in developing effective healthcare to all their citizens. That is why the UK strongly supports the global fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria and why the Prime Minister asked me to form a high level working group to report back by May 2002 on what else needs to be done. On 8 October, I chaired the first meeting of the high level working group on access to medicines, at which Government Ministers and officials—including representatives from DTI—met with a range of key stakeholders to look at ways of increasing research and development into the diseases of the poor.
	The UK supports the development of a meaningful declaration on this issue at the Doha ministerial conference, which should affirm and clarify flexibilities within the TRIPS Agreement to allow developing countries to protect their public health needs.

Devolved Administrations

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her policy is with regard to (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department giving evidence to (i) Scottish Parliament, (ii) Welsh Assembly and (iii) Northern Ireland Assembly committees; and to what categories of document she gives (A) full access, (B) restricted access and (C) no access to (1) Scottish parliament, (2) Welsh Assembly, (3) Northern Ireland Assembly and (4) House of Commons Select committees.

Clare Short: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office, Official Report, 15 October 2001, column 1003W.

World Trade Organisation

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will urge the WTO to commit itself to achieving the international development targets at the next round of WTO negotiations.

Clare Short: The UK Government believe that the WTO should commit itself to achieving the international development targets. This would send a strong message that the WTO is part of the fight against poverty and that its promotion of trade liberalisation is a means for development, rather than an end in itself.

World Trade Organisation

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proposal the United Kingdom Government plans to make at the next multilateral round of WTO negotiations to ensure that it is a development round.

Clare Short: The UK Government are committed to pushing for a development round of trade negotiations at the WTO, to be launched at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar, 9 to 13 November. This should bring substantial benefits to developing countries, particularly by increasing their access to markets for products of interest to them, such as agriculture and textiles. We are pushing for an agenda for the negotiations that will satisfy the varying needs of developing countries. Once such a round is launched we will continue to work hard for an outcome that will benefit the poor in developing countries.

Sudan

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on food security in southern Sudan for the next six months.

Clare Short: It is harvest time now in southern Sudan. Present indications for the next six months throughout most of the area look better than in some previous years. We will continue to monitor needs and respond accordingly.

Sudan

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to visit southern Sudan.

Clare Short: I am considering a visit to Sudan if it will help encourage progress towards peace.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Individual Learning Accounts

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many companies have registered to be learning providers under the Individual Learning Account scheme.

John Healey: In England, 8,504 learning providers are currently registered with the Individual Learning Account Centre.

Specialist Schools

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her estimate is of the proportion of state secondary schools which will be specialist schools by the end of 2003; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: By September 2003 we expect there to be at least 1,000 operational specialist schools. This will take the proportion of maintained secondary schools which have specialist designation to 32 per cent. By 2005 we plan for at least 46 per cent. of secondary schools to have specialist status. Over time we want to ensure that all maintained secondary schools which want to and are ready have the opportunity to become a specialist school as part of their strategy for school improvement.

Post-16 Students

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what arrangements have been made to ensure that schools with post-16 students do not lose income as a result of the Learning and Skills Council taking control of funding in 2002.

Ivan Lewis: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. I have therefore asked John Harwood, the Council's Chief Executive, to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and to place a copy of his reply in the Library.

Energy Efficiency Week

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action her Department took in recognition of Energy Efficiency Week.

Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment on 30 October 2001, Official Report, column 592W. As Energy Efficiency Week was aimed primarily at domestic energy use, and its environmental impact, no additional action was taken in recognition of the week. The Department does, of course, have a well-established and on-going commitment to energy efficiency across all its activities.

Communities Projects

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps her Department plans to take to ensure community access is maximised in respect of wired up communities projects.

John Healey: We are piloting the wired up communities initiative in 14,000 households in seven areas across England, including inner city, rural and coalfield communities. An evaluation report on this pilot phase is due to be published in spring 2002. Findings will be carefully considered before any decisions are made on how best to maximise community access to ICT. However, our existing policies also mean that by the end of 2002 there will be 6,000 UK online centres—including 3,000 public libraries—operating across England to provide widespread community access to ICT facilities.

School Performance

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what percentage of students achieved five A to C grades at GCSE in each local education authority in England in (a) 2000 and (b) 2001; and what the percentage change in performance was in each case;
	(2)  if she will list the schools in England where the percentage of students achieving fewer than five grades A to C was less than 25 per cent. in 2001; and for each school, (a) the percentage change in performance compared with 2000 and (b) the local education authority in which the school was situated.

Ivan Lewis: The Department will publish 2001 GCSE (and GNVQ equivalent) results for each local education authority in England in a statistical first release on 20 November and data for schools in England in the secondary school performance tables on 22 November. I will then write to my hon. Friend with the information he seeks and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the changes which have taken place within the export credit guarantee arrangements in the last four years.

Nigel Griffiths: The role of the Export Credits Guarantee Department, the UK's official export credit agency, was recently reviewed. Work on implementing the findings of the Mission and Status Review Report, presented to Parliament in July 2000, is currently well under way.
	The Review strongly reaffirmed ECGD's primary role in bringing economic benefit to the UK by helping UK exporters and investors to win valuable business abroad.
	It also set out an important agenda for change to ensure that ECGD works to help Government meet their international objectives, including those of sustainable development, human rights and good governance.

Energy Needs

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her Department's submission to the performance and innovation unit's review of future energy needs.

Brian Wilson: My Department submitted an initial contribution to the PIU's Energy Policy Review on 1 August. The submission represented officials' preliminary analysis of some of the key issues that PIU will need to consider during their review. Its purpose was to stimulate debate about energy policy issues.

Fixed Term Contracts Directive

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her policy on implementation of the EU fixed term contracts directive.

Melanie Johnson: The Government held a public consultation early this year on the implementation of the fixed term directive and the responses received are currently being considered. The directive is due to be implemented by 10 July 2002.

Equal Pay

Alice Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action her Department is taking to reduce the pay gap between men and women.

Patricia Hewitt: Denise Kingsmill's review of Women's Employment and Pay will be reporting very shortly, and we look forward to discussing her findings at a December conference. Government Departments are reviewing their pay systems and we are promoting action in local government. The Equal Opportunity Commission's model for voluntary pay reviews will also soon be available.

Universities and Business

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to encourage co-operation between universities and the business community.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government's "Excellence and Opportunity" White Paper, published last July, set out a comprehensive range of actions to strengthen links between business and universities. Over £100 million has recently been awarded to Higher Education Institutions under these measures.

Sole Trader Businesses

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what help she makes available for a person who wishes to start a business as a sole trader.

Nigel Griffiths: This Government are committed to promoting enterprise across society by increasing the number and quality of business start-ups.
	This is focused at a local level through the Small Business Service's Business Link network, which provides a comprehensive package of tailored high quality business support to meet the needs of all small businesses in their areas, including to those starting a business as a sole trader.

Anti-discrimination Legislation

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will introduce anti-discrimination legislation required by the EU directives.

Patricia Hewitt: We shall introduce new anti-discrimination legislation in time to meet the deadlines which we agreed in the Employment Directive: namely, 2003 for sexual orientation and religion; and 2006 for age.
	I am considering with colleagues across Government how best to introduce legislation on these issues while fulfilling our commitments on existing legislation on race, disability and sex discrimination. We shall publish a consultation document about our plans for new legislation within the next three months.

Miners' Compensation

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment she has made of the miners' compensation scheme.

Brian Wilson: In total, more than £600 million has now been paid out. Progress on Vibration White Finger has been maintained, and there are clear signs of progress on respiratory disease. Well over 1,000 medical assessments are now being carried out each week. We expect to see the number of full and final offers increasing sharply over the next few weeks. I recognise the need for constant vigilance to ensure that improvements are sustained.

Miners' Compensation

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of miners' compensation claimants have received interim payments.

Brian Wilson: As at 14 October the Department has made 40,000 interim payments to respiratory disease claimants, and 40,000 to Vibration White Finger claimants. However, the Department is not able to quote these as a percentage of claimants as some claimants may have received more than one payment.

Miners' Compensation

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the progress being made in processing miners' compensation claims.

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the progress of the miners' health compensation scheme.

Brian Wilson: I refer my hon. Friends to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Leigh (Andy Burnham), on 1 November 2001, Official Report, column 997.

Miners' Compensation

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many retired coal miners in each of the last five years died before industrial illness compensation was paid to them.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 23 October 2001
	The number of coal miners whose date of death is after their date of claim, and who have not received any compensation, including interim payments, for respiratory disease is broken down as follows:
	
		
			  Number of claimants who have not received any compensation for respiratory disease 
		
		
			 1997 209 
			 1998 805 
			 1999 1,377 
			 2000 1,486 
			 2001 1,255

Renewable Energy

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further action she is taking to promote renewable energy.

Brian Wilson: We are about to introduce the Renewables Obligation which will provide a substantial long-term incentive to the renewable energy sector as a whole with the potential to create a market worth over £1 billion per annum by 2010. We are backing up our commitment to the Obligation with additional initiatives worth over £260 million over this and the next two financial years.

Competitiveness

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures she is taking to ensure the future competitiveness of British manufacturing industry.

Patricia Hewitt: The favourable macroeconomic framework the Government have established, together with our policies to foster productivity and help firms innovate and grow, are the best way to ensure the future competitiveness of the UK manufacturing sector.

Glas Cymru

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the potential of Glas Cymru to be a model for social enterprise.

Patricia Hewitt: My Department's Social Enterprise Unit, launched last month, will be examining a wide range of potential models for successful social enterprises.

Textile Industry

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance her Department is giving the textile sector.

Patricia Hewitt: My Department provides considerable financial and other assistance to the Textile and Clothing Industry. The focus for much of this assistance is the priorities identified by the industry itself in the report of the Textile and Clothing Strategy Group, "A National Strategy for the UK Textile and Clothing Industry", which was published in June 2000. Current priorities include support for the development of innovative technical textiles, the supply chain, the fashion industry, training and skills, e-commerce, and public procurement.

Competitiveness (North-West)

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action her Department has taken to support the regional economic competitiveness of the north-west after 11 September.

Patricia Hewitt: The North West Development Agency is preparing a report assessing the impact of the events of 11 September and its aftermath on the economy of the region and identifying what needs to be done. The events underline the importance of existing programmes of advice and assistance, and the urgency of the review of the Department of Trade and Industry's business support activities that I initiated earlier this year.

Post Office Closures

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post offices have closed since April.

Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) on 15 October 2001, Official report, column 986W.

Small Business

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support she gives to small businesses.

Nigel Griffiths: The Government provide a wide range of help for small businesses, including support from the Small Business Service, which, through its national network of Business Link Operators provides information, advice, or access to experts on just about everything needed to start and run a business.
	Services include business planning, finance, regulation, marketing, exporting, employment issues, training and development, innovation, design and ICT and E-commerce.

Broadband

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures the Government have taken to expand broadband cabling at competitive rates in Wales.

Douglas Alexander: The Government are working to ensure that broadband services are available in all parts of the country. To this end we are developing a strategy together with all interested parties. The £30 million fund for regional development agencies and the devolved Administrations is focused on extending broadband networks to those who are not offered access by the market, including in rural areas. In Wales, the National Assembly is carrying forward its own work on broadband in rural areas with our support and assistance. The Assembly First Minister made an announcement on 24 October regarding, investment to speed roll-out in the public sector.
	In addition, we are examining the scope for aggregating public sector demand in order to speed up the roll-out of broadband services.

Rural Post Offices

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has for improving the rural post office network.

Douglas Alexander: The Government are committed to providing transitional financial assistance to rural post offices and decisions on this will be taken following advice from the Postal Services Commission which is expected later in the autumn. In addition, implementation of the Performance and Innovation Unit recommendations, all of which were accepted by the Government, will help to modernise and sustain the whole post office network. We have made available a £2 million fund to support volunteer and community initiatives to maintain or reopen post office facilities in rural areas where traditional services would otherwise close.

Manufacturing

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what additional measures she plans to take to assist manufacturing industry.

Patricia Hewitt: My Department's support for manufacturing is wide-ranging; from schemes to encourage innovation and collaboration with the science base, to work with specific sectors on targeted programmes to enhance their competitiveness, to exporting services and regional and local support. I am strengthening assistance to manufacturing industry through our increased support for the regional development agencies to raise innovation, enterprise and skills. We are taking forward our announced initiative to provide a manufacturing advisory service, based on provision of services on a regional basis. We are also introducing measures to help workers develop their skills and increase their prospects of finding new employment if they lose their jobs.

Embedded Generation Working Group

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the function of the Embedded Generation Working Group is.

Brian Wilson: The Embedded Generation Working Group provided advice about access for small generators to distribution networks. It made its final report in June.
	Ofgem is presently consulting on regulatory issues arising from the report. A Co-ordination Group is being established to ensure that the wider recommendations are addressed.

Biological Weapon Production

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she has taken to ensure that pharmaceutical companies in the United Kingdom are not engaged in the production of biological weapons.

Patricia Hewitt: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced on 15 October 2001, Official Report, column 923, the legislative measures that he intends to introduce in the very near future to counter international terrorism threats. The legislation will include clauses to cover the intention to use, produce, possess or participate in unauthorised transfers of chemical and biological as well as nuclear and radiological materials.

Newspaper Distribution Industry

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what recent representations she has received on restrictive agreements in the newspaper distribution industry; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  if she will ask the Director General of Fair Trading to investigate possible restrictive agreements in the newspaper distribution industry; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: Under UK competition legislation, the Director General of Fair Trading is responsible for monitoring markets and considering allegations of anti- competitive behaviour. The Director General has considered complaints about anti-competitive behaviour in the newspaper distribution industry but has so far taken the view that the industry is highly competitive overall. Representations received about restrictive agreements in the newspaper distribution industry have been passed to the Director General.

Multinational Companies

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with her EU counterparts regarding the mandatory use of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development guidelines for multinational companies.

Nigel Griffiths: None. The Government support the voluntary nature of the OECD guidelines and are not aware of any plans by EU partners to make them mandatory.

Trade Trends

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the trends are in the export and import of goods in the current year; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: The latest estimates of trend produced by the Office for National Statistics (based on data to August), show both the value of exports and imports falling in recent months. This follows record levels of trade in 2001 quarter 1.

Energy Efficiency

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action her Department took in recognition of Energy Efficiency Week.

Patricia Hewitt: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment, on 30 October 2001, Official Report, column 592W. My Department is fully committed to supporting energy efficiency, achieving an improvement of some 50 per cent. in energy efficiency at standard prices in 1997–98 compared with 1990–91. An energy audit is currently under way with a view to making further improvements.

Registered Designs Regulations

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  if she will propose an amendment to the law to provide a definition of "Royal Family" for the purposes of Section 1(1)(c) of Schedule A1 of the Registered Designs Regulations 2001;
	(2)  for what reason the Registered Design Regulations 2001 provide that registration of any representation or colourable imitation of any member of the Royal Family shall be refused registration under the Registered Designs Act 1949.

Melanie Johnson: The Registered Designs Regulations accord with the views taken by Parliament when concluding the Trade Marks Act 1994, which implemented equivalent provisions of another directive. In particular, this provision is exactly equivalent to section 4(1)(c) of that Act, which specifies a public interest exception to trade mark protection.
	There is no statutory definition of "Royal Family" provided by the 1994 Act or these Regulations. It is a matter for the courts to decide how far this public interest exception to protection extends.

Electricity Trading

Desmond Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make an announcement on the Government's response to Ofgem's reports, 'The New Electricity Trading Arrangements-Review of the First Three Months' and 'Report to the DTI on the Review of the Initial Impact of NETA on Smaller Generators' of 31 August.

Brian Wilson: The Government believe that NETA has been a success in its own terms. The introduction of a more efficient regime into a more transparent, inclusive and efficient pricing system has meant that wholesale electricity prices are up to 25 per cent. lower than the artificially high prices that existed under the Pool arrangements. In addition, Ofgem's findings show rapid emergence of a strong and liquid forward curve—this will contribute to UK's longer-term security of energy supply by providing reliable longer-term price signals for investors to use in planning new generation.
	The Government recognise the issues faced by smaller generators under NETA. The Government remain strongly committed to renewable and combined heat and power generation. At the same time, we are committed to the regulatory framework set out in the Utilities Act 2000, the principles and structure of NETA, which has already delivered a good deal of real benefit to consumers, and promises to do so in future as well.
	The Government have reviewed and considered Ofgem's reports, as well as views put forward by industry, both in the course of Ofgem's review, and to DTI. In light of these, I have issued a consultation document today, seeking views on the issues raised by Ofgem's reports and specific proposals. The Government's key proposals are, broadly:
	ensuring imbalance prices are genuinely cost reflective—this will reduce the risk for everyone, but for smaller and unpredictable generators in particular; and
	ensuring that effective consolidation services emerge—this will reduce the risks for smaller generators further. The Government have proposed setting up a working group that will look urgently at obstacles to market driven consolidation, including the possibility of encouraging consolidation.
	The Government are also seeking views on other proposals put forward by industry.
	I have placed copies of the consultation document in the Libraries of the House.

Employment Tribunals

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the number of cases dismissed by employment tribunals on the grounds that they were scandalous, frivolous or vexatious in each of the past 10 years.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 24 October 2001
	It would not be possible to measure the number of cases dismissed by employment tribunals on the grounds that they were scandalous, frivolous or vexatious in each of the past 10 years.
	Such information is not available from the employment tribunals service database, which only records the outcome of each case and not the reasons for the outcome.
	However, survey evidence suggests that in 2000–01 there were between 2,600 and 5,200 tribunal cases where the applicant was advised against taking their case forward.

Icelandic Trawlermen (Compensation)

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims under the Icelandic Trawlerman's Compensation Scheme have not been processed due to claimants sailing on Icelandic water vessels after 1979; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: There were 1,115 claims on hold from trawlermen who continued fishing after 1979 on vessels that formerly fished in Icelandic waters. I have decided to amend the rules of the scheme so that such fishing no longer disqualifies men from receiving compensation.

Aggregates Tax

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the (a) benefits and (b) costs to the construction industry are of the aggregates tax.

Paul Boateng: holding answer 30 October 2001
	I have been asked to reply.
	The environmental benefits of the aggregates levy will be more efficient use of virgin aggregate and a greater use of recycled alternative. This will reduce the environmental impacts of virgin aggregate extraction—such as damage to biodiversity and visual intrusion. In addition, all revenues raised will be recycled to business through a 0.1 percentage point cut in employers' national insurance contributions and a new £35 million sustainability fund aimed at delivering local environmental benefits to areas subject to the environmental costs of aggregates extraction.
	The levy will be charged at £1.60 per tonne on the commercial exploitation of virgin aggregates in the UK, including those imported from abroad. Aggregates exported from the UK will be exempt.
	A full regulatory impact assessment was published at the time of Budget 2000. The impact on the actual costs to the end user will be dependent on the commercial decisions of those in the supply chain.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

Railtrack

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the occasions on which guidance has been given to Railtrack by Ministers or statutory bodies at national level since May 1997, indicating in each case the body concerned.

David Jamieson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, the Strategic Rail Authority and the Rail Regulator have not given formal guidance specifically to Railtrack.

Railtrack

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he had meetings with the Chairman of Railtrack between 25 July and 5 October.

John Spellar: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met John Robinson, the Chairman of Railtrack, on 25 July, on 27 July at the Rail Delivery Group and on 5 October. As agreed by the Secretary of State and Mr. Robinson, officials held a number of meetings with Railtrack and their advisers during this period.

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the level of reserves the successor to Railtrack will require to support a BBB credit rating.

David Jamieson: The appropriate level of reserves would be determined once the railway administrator has been able to assess Railtrack Plc's true financial position on the basis of a better understanding of its assets, liabilities and cost base.

Railtrack

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the total amounts paid by Railtrack to (a) directors and (b) shareholders were in each year since privatisation.

David Jamieson: (a) The Directors of Railtrack Group Plc received total remuneration of over £10.4 million for the period 1996–97 to 2000–01 inclusive. The annual breakdown is shown in the table.
	
		Directors' remuneration
		
			 Year £000 
		
		
			 1996–97 1,386 
			 1997–98 2,167 
			 1998–99 2,046 
			 1999–2000 2,153 
			 2000–01 2,669 
		
	
	(b) Since its flotation on 20 May 1996, Railtrack Group Plc have paid over £700 million to shareholders in cash, or equivalent, dividends. The annual breakdown is shown in the table.
	
		Shareholder dividends
		
			 Year £ million 
		
		
			 1996–97(1) 180 
			 1997–98 121 
			 1998–99 133 
			 1999–2000 137 
			 2000–01 138 
		
	
	(1) The 1996–97 payment includes £69 million of dividends relating to performance in 1995–96, when Railtrack was in the public sector, but not paid until after privatisation.

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had with (a) Moodys, (b) S & P, and (c) other credit rating agencies concerning Railtrack and its successor; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Officials have met with credit rating agencies as part of their overall objective of ensuring that the rail network continues to receive sufficient funding to operate on a normal basis during the administration of Railtrack Plc and, separately, to develop further the Government's proposals for a Company Limited by Guarantee.

Railtrack

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he plans to seek parliamentary approval for a voted loan to Railtrack plc in administration.

John Spellar: Parliamentary approval will be sought during the forthcoming Winter Supplementary estimates.

Railtrack

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will ensure the separation of the safety regulation from the ownership of the rail network following the creation of the successor to Railtrack.

John Spellar: The regulator for railway safety is the Health and Safety Executive. There are no plans to change this.

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what meetings his Department has held with financial institutions since the Railtrack administration announcement.

David Jamieson: The Government have had meetings with their financial advisers, bondholders and with credit rating agencies to ensure that the rail network continues to receive sufficient funding to operate on a normal basis during the administration of Railtrack plc and, to discuss the Government's proposals for a Company Limited by a Guarantee.

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions with which institutions holding Railtrack bonds his Department has held discussions since the administration order; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Officials of my Department were present at meetings organised by representatives of bondholders. A number of institutions would have been present at these meetings.

Rail Freight

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what is the most recent guidance he has given to the Strategic Rail Authority on the 10 year plan target for rail freight; and what the original target was.

David Jamieson: A key target of the Government's 10-Year Plan is for rail to achieve a significant increase in its share of the freight market by 2010.
	In pursuance of this and other targets for the railway, the Secretary of State published on 13 July this year draft directions and guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority. This requires the authority, among other things, to secure increases in capacity to accommodate the expected growth in freight traffic.

Rail Infrastructure

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he informed the Strategic Rail Authority of his Department's discussions with (a) passenger rail franchisees and (b) train operating companies to take over responsibility for operating and maintaining railway infrastructure in the areas where they run train services.

John Spellar: Officials have had meetings on such matters with train operators' representatives or their advisers at their request. These have not resulted in any changes in policy about which the Strategic Rail Authority needed to be informed.

Rail Investment

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the first special purpose vehicle for investment in the rail infrastructure will be in operation.

David Jamieson: Plans exist for special purpose vehicles to be created to undertake works in connection with the replacement of the South West and South Central passenger franchises and the development of the East London Line. Other opportunities also exist but are generally less well advanced at present. It is not possible at this stage to be specific about timing which is a matter for commercial negotiation among the parties involved.

Rail Safety (Vehicle Access)

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what safety improvements have been suggested by Railtrack and the Highways Agency following the incidences of vehicles on the track at (a) Selby on 28 February, (b) Bletchley in Buckinghamshire on 24 August and (c) Wilsford in Lincolnshire on 30 August; what action has been taken as a result; and if he will make a statement on the funding of the improvements;
	(2)  what arrangements exist between Railtrack and the Highways Agency to co-ordinate provisions to prevent road vehicles getting on to railway tracks;
	(3)  if the vulnerability of the sites of the incidences of vehicles on the track at (a) Selby on 28 February, (b) Bletchley in Buckinghamshire on 24 August and (c) Wilsford in Lincolnshire on 30 August (i) had been identified by Railtrack prior to the accident and (ii) had been subjected to a risk assessment;
	(4)  how (a) the Highways Agency and (b) Railtrack establish the vulnerability of locations from which vehicles might accidentally gain access to railway tracks;
	(5)  if the vulnerability of the sites of the incidences of vehicles on the track at (a) Selby on 28 February, (b) Bletchley in Buckinghamshire on 24 August and (c) Wilsford in Lincolnshire on 30 August (i) had been identified by the Highways Agency prior to the accident and (ii) had been subjected to a risk assessment;

David Jamieson: The assessment of roads is an operational matter for the relevant highway authority, in consultation with the relevant rail authorities if a road crosses a railway.
	The Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions is the highway authority for the site at Great Heck, near Selby, where a vehicle left the road on 28 February 2001. I can confirm that the barrier provision at this site met all the relevant standards. On Monday 12 March this year the then Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Local Government and the Regions, my hon. Friend the Member for Streatham (Keith Hill), announced in a PQ that the Deputy Prime Minister had asked the Highways Agency to review its standards for nearside safety barriers. He also announced that the DPM has asked the Health and Safety Commission to convene a working group that will look at the circumstances of incidents where vehicles have blocked rail lines and whether there are features in common that might have been prevented. When I have the reports from the Highways Agency and from the Health and Safety Commission, I will be able to consider what action needs to be taken by those responsible for the road and the rail infrastructure.

M5 (Junction 10)

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects to announce a decision on implementing two-way access to the M5 at junction 10; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Highways Agency is proposing to carry out a route management strategy study on this part of the trunk road network, which will examine the role and performance of the M5 and include consideration of Junction 10 near Uckington in Gloucestershire.
	The study is expected to be commissioned around the turn of the year and will take approximately 12 months to complete.
	If the study concludes that alterations to the Junction are merited, the scheme would have to be adopted into the Highways Agency's programme, following consultation with, and a recommendation from the Regional Assembly. This is in line with procedures outlined in the Planning Policy Guidance Note 11 (PPG 11).
	Accordingly, it is not possible at this time to give a reliable prediction of when I may be able to make an announcement.

Heathrow

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on Heathrow Terminal 5.

Sally Keeble: No decision has yet been taken on the proposed fifth terminal at Heathrow. The applicants for planning permission and other interested parties will all be told of the decision in the usual way, and an oral statement will be made to inform Parliament.

Heathrow

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will announce the Government's decision on Terminal 5.

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will announce his decision on the proposed building of Terminal 5 at Heathrow.

Sally Keeble: No decision has yet been taken on the proposed fifth Terminal at Heathrow. The Secretary of State will announce his decision once he has completed his full and careful consideration of all the issues. The applicants for planning permission and other interested parties will all be told of the decision in the usual way, and an oral statement will be made to inform Parliament.

Heathrow

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had with the aviation industry regarding the safety of residents living under flight paths into Heathrow Airport.

David Jamieson: The safety of residents living under flight paths into Heathrow Airport is best assured by the safety regulation of aircraft, operators and air traffic movements. The safety regulation of UK registered aircraft and operators and of air traffic control in UK airspace is the day-to-day responsibility of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The Authority has regular contacts with the aviation industry.
	In addition, following the attacks in New York and Washington, aviation security has been heightened at all UK airports. An urgent and thorough review of aviation security has also been undertaken, involving Government, the CAA and industry. This has looked at a wide range of measures aimed at enhancing aviation security and safety still further, for the benefit of both passengers and people on the ground.

Pollution (Aircraft)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to reduce environmental pollution from aeroplanes and aircraft fuels.

David Jamieson: My Department is continuing to work with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and other interested organisations, both national and international, on a range of measures to further improve the environmental performance of aircraft. This includes developing and introducing better technologies, adopting more optimal operating practices, and devising economic incentives to encourage the use of cleaner aircraft. The Department is also supporting national and international research aimed at reaching a better understanding of the environmental impact of aviation and of the effects of possible action to mitigate it.

Stingray

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what targets have been set by the Government for cutting evasion of vehicle excise duty from the introduction of the Stingray system in (a) Scotland and (b) the rest of the UK.

David Jamieson: We have set a target of 700,000 successful cases against evasion of vehicle excise duty for Great Britain in 2001–02. The mobile camera system will help to achieve this demanding target.

Stingray

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the Stingray system is to be used throughout the country.

David Jamieson: The national launch of the new mobile camera system took place in London on 11 October. The systems are now in use across the country.

Stingray

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the estimated cost is of implementing the Stingray system in (a) Scotland and (b) the rest of the UK.

David Jamieson: The full cost of implementing the mobile camera system which will be used across the UK was around £2 million including the purchase of the equipment, staff and other costs. The units are mobile and will be displayed flexibly across the UK.

Stingray

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what savings he estimates will arise from the introduction of the Stingray system.

David Jamieson: We estimate that the new mobile camera system will generate around £9 million per annum in additional revenue from enforcement action against evaders and from increased voluntary relicensing.

Stingray

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the estimated cost is of the advertising campaign for the introduction of the Stingray system.

David Jamieson: The cost of publicising the VED enforcement campaign, including the new mobile number plate readers, was £640,000 for the national launch in London on 11 October and £240,000 in Scotland on 23 October. A further £1 million will be spent on additional campaigns involving the new system for the remainder of the UK over the rest of the year.

Stingray

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans the Government have to monitor the effectiveness of the Stingray system; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The effectiveness of the new mobile camera system will be monitored by: the number of unlicensed vehicles captured by the system; the number of successful cases pursued against VED evaders captured by the system; the penalties, fines and revenue recovered from those evaders, and the deterrent effect measured by the additional revenue received from induced relicensing as a result of the publicity campaigns.

Stingray

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the estimated running costs are for the Stingray system.

David Jamieson: The estimated running costs for the 11 units of the mobile camera system is £1.2 million per annum.

Airport Security

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much of the £1.67 million allocated for research into methods for improving transport security has been specifically aimed at improving airport security in (a) Scotland and (b) the rest of the UK.

David Jamieson: The benefits accruing from my Department's Research and Development programme for aviation security are equally available to all airports in the United Kingdom.

Vehicles (Pedestrian Protection)

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what expert advice he has received on the conclusions of the German Federal Research Organisation BaST on the compatibility of the Phase One and EEVC tests on vehicles designed for greater pedestrian protection.

David Jamieson: We have had no specific advice. BaST recently highlighted the difficulty of designing for different headform sizes, particularly the 4.8kg and 3.5kg headforms. This is not a new issue, and it is one which industry would have been aware of when the negotiated agreement was originally prepared.

Vehicles (Pedestrian Protection)

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what expert advice he has received on the conclusions by the Dutch Ministry of Transport on the option by the EU for the draft negotiated agreement on vehicles designed for greater pedestrian protection.

David Jamieson: We have not received any specific expert advice on this, but we understand that the Dutch favour going to a Directive.

Vehicles (Pedestrian Protection)

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if the draft negotiated agreement on vehicles designed for greater pedestrian protection will permit manufacturers to pass the EEVC tests instead of the Phase One industry tests.

David Jamieson: The negotiated agreement, as drafted, does not specifically cater for this. However, it would be illogical if, in practice, vehicles which met the full EEVC Phase Two requirements were not permitted under Phase One.

Departmental Policies (Northampton, South)

Tony Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Northampton, South constituency, the effects on Northampton of his Department's policies and action since May 1997.

Alan Whitehead: The information is as follows:
	
		
			 Nature of funding 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Northampton borough council(2)  
			 Revenue Support Grant (£ million) 7.322 8.080 7.550 7.249 7.772 
			 Income from National Non-Domestic Rates (£ million) 6.021 6.171 6.674 7.548 7.359 
			   
			 South Northamptonshire  
			 Housing Investment Programme (£000) 625 471 538 1,483 (3)2,135 
			 Capital Receipts Initiative — — — n/a n/a 
			   
			 Northampton  
			 Housing Investment Programme (£000) 2,520 1,959 2,131 6,720 9,100 
			 Capital Receipts Initiative (£000) 529 1,590 1,653 n/a n/a 
			   
			 South Northamptonshire  
			 Housing Revenue Account Subsidy(4) (£000) 807.27 — — — 817.05 
			   
			 Northampton  
			 Housing Revenue Account Subsidy(5) (£000) 765.55 — — — 797.38 
			   
			 Northamptonshire county council allocations  
			 Transport Supplementary Grant (£ million) 1.078 0.886 0.935 — — 
			 Transport Annual Capital Guideline (£ million) 1.078 0.886 0.935 — — 
			 Transport Block Supplementary Credit Approval (£ million) 1.300 1.369 2.236 5.089 11.866 
			 Rural Bus Challenge Grant from 1999–2000 (£ million) — — 0.488 0.051 — 
			 Rural Bus Subsidy Grant from 1998–99 (£ million) — 0.697 0.697 0.697 0.890 
		
	
	(2) Northampton borough council 2001–02 settlement key figures
	Standard Spending Assessment (SSA)
	Total SSA—£20.6 million
	Increase over 2000–01—£0.615 million or 3.1 per cent. (average for class authority 4.6 per cent.)
	EPCS SSA—£20.108 million
	Increase over 2000–01—£0.503 million or 2.6 per cent (average for class of authority 4.5 per cent.)
	General grant
	Total grant—£15.131 million
	Increase over 2000–01—£0.313 million or 2.1 per cent. (average for class of authority 3.9 per cent.)
	Council tax 2000–01
	Budget increase 3.4 per cent.—Band D council tax £145—Band D increase 5.9 per cent.
	(3) Includes MRA
	(4) Combined Management and Maintenance Allowance per dwelling 1.2 per cent. increase in cash terms but 8 per cent. in real terms.
	(5) Combined Management and Maintenance Allowance per dwelling 4.2 per cent. increase in cash terms but 5.4 per cent. in real terms.
	
		SRB Funding in Northamptonshire
		
			 Year SRB Rd 1 SRB Rd 5 SRB Rd 6 Total 
		
		
			 1997–98 1,548,796 — — 1,549,045.63 
			 1998–99 1,024,501 — — 1,549,045.63 
			 1999–2000 1,783,938 11,954 — 3,098,091.26 
			 2000–01 1,485,000 70,678 14,925 1,572,603.00 
			 2001–02 942,812 96,678 134,700 1,175,190.50 
		
	
	SRB Round 1—Northampton Partnership—Target area—Northampton wards of Dallington and Kings Heath, Delapre, Southbridge, Castle and St. Crispin
	SRB Round 5—Northamptonshire Connecting Communities—Target Area—whole county
	SRB Round 6—Target Area—Northampton wards of Dallington and Kings Heath, Castle and St. Crispin
	Rural Farm Building Grant
	2001–02: £82,431—Towcester
	The SRB funding represents the total SRB allocated during the financial year to a number of projects in the wards listed. The SRB Partnerships appraised and approved the vast majority of these projects. Therefore, East Midlands Development Agency does not have this information readily available. Moreover, as some of these projects operate in all wards and some in specific wards it is not practical to calculate how much funding has been allocated to individual wards.

Planning Applications

Tony Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the planning applications for housing development in Northampton on greenfield sites (a) which he has called in and (b) for which he has issued a holding direction since 7 March 2000, indicating (i) the location, (ii) number of houses and (iii) area of land involved.

Sally Keeble: The planning applications listed are those submitted for housing development in Northampton on greenfield sites which the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions has called in or issued a holding direction, since 7 March 2000. Also indicated is the location of the development, the number of houses to be provided and the area of land involved.
	
		Hectares 
		
			 Location Number of houses Area of land 
		
		
			 (a) Cases called in since 7 March 2000   
			 Banbury Lane Phase IV, Northampton Approximately 175 dwellings 6.8 
			
			 Land at Pineham North, Northampton 400 dwellings (as part of mixed use development incorporating B1 business, B2 industrial, B8 storage and distribution open space, landscaping) 68 
			
			  (b) Cases on which a Holding Direction was issued since 7 March 2000 
			 Banbury Lane Phase IV, Northampton Approximately 175 dwellings 6.8 
			
			 Land at Pineham North, Northampton 400 dwellings (as part of mixed use development incorporating B1 business, B2 industrial, B8 storage and distribution open space, landscaping) 68 
			
			 St. Crispins Hospital, Northampton 186 dwellings (plus some limited retail facilities) 7.4 
			
			 St. Crispins Hospital, Northampton 900 dwellings (plus 150 bedroom hotel, local retain and community facilities) 72

Planning Applications

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many planning decisions he has called in since 7 June; and when he will determine them.

Sally Keeble: Since 7 June 2001, 64 planning applications have been called in, of which four have subsequently been withdrawn by the applicants.
	Called-in planning applications are normally considered at a planning inquiry, following which a planning inspector reports to the Secretary of State. We have set targets for Government Offices for the Regions to issue 80 per cent. of decisions on called-in planning applications in 13 weeks and 100 per cent. in 20 weeks following receipt of the inspector's report.

Departmental Contracts

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the contracts awarded to (a) AEA Technology and (b) Amey Vectra Ltd. by his Department and its predecessor agencies and non-departmental public bodies since May 1999.

Alan Whitehead: holding answer 29 October 2001
	The following contracts have been awarded by my Department and its predecessor agencies since May 1999 to;
	(a) AEA Technology by:
	(i) Central Department:
	Management Support for the Safety & Health Business Plan;
	Beacon Council Round 2 Theme Research: Sustainable Development/Local; Environmental Quality—Maintaining a High Quality Local Environment;
	Contaminated Land Research Audit;
	National Cycling Strategy—For the Provision of Marketing and Promotional Activities;
	National Cycling Strategy—For services to promote the national Cycling Strategy;
	Promotion of National Cycling Strategy;
	School Travel Seminars 2000—Organisation of Workshops and regional seminars;
	Are you doing your bit—travel awareness campaign research;
	Provision of services to DETR/DEFRA;
	DETR/DEFRA contribution towards cost of EU SAVE project (55 per cent.);
	DETR/DEFRA contribution towards cost of EU SAVE project (20 per cent.);
	DETR/DEFRA contribution towards cost of EU SAVE project (9 per cent.);
	Provision of feasibility studies into environmental and marketing conditions (four contracts);
	Air Quality at UK Regional Airports;
	Local Air quality modelling for the South East and East of England Regional Air Service Study;
	Regional Air Services Part 3: Air Quality Modelling for Midlands & Scotland
	Professional Advice on Energy Matters;
	Cost Effectiveness of noise reduction measures: Phase 1;
	Ethanol emission testing;
	Greener fleet certification scheme;
	An in-service emissions test for spark ignition petrol;
	Evaluation of traffic modelling & appraisal research programme;
	In-Car particulate exposure;
	Greener fleet certification scheme (company car fleets);
	European particle measurement programme: Phase 1;
	Rail research strategy co-ordinator;
	Study of Air Quality at Airports (two contracts);
	Comparative Study of the environmental effects of rail & short haul air travel;
	Developed Countries Commitments to reduced/limit emissions of Greenhouse Gases during the period 2008 to 2012;
	Development & Implementation of a methodology to verify projected UK emissions of HydrofluoroCarbons, Perfluorocarbons & Sulphur Hexafluoride;
	Assess atmospheric Ozone Measurement at Lerwick and Camborne;
	Develop, maintain and archive the annual UK inventory of GHG emissions by sources and removals by sink;
	Organise & provide technical support for IPCC expert workshop on good practice for reporting GHG Inventory guideline;
	Carry out cost effectiveness analysis reduction Options for UK emissions of Methane and Nitrous Oxide;
	Preliminary study to assess the likely effects of the EU Landfill Directive and the Government's draft waste strategy on GHG emissions.
	(ii) Vehicle Inspectorate:
	Diesel Emission Research;
	Research Work on the Influence of On-board Diagnostic Fault on Vehicle emission.
	(iii) Maritime and Coastguard Agency:
	Ensure EUROSPILL was millennium compliant, update tidal data, display marine hazards;
	Chemical dispersal of oil—a route for rapid removal from the environment;
	Research project 473—Safety First Project;
	General Technical queries in areas where the Agency does not possess the expertise Testing whether oil dispersant is still usable;
	Administrating scheme and paying grants for scheme which supports merchant navy training.
	(b) Amey Vectra Ltd by
	(i) Maritime and Coastguard Agency:
	Undertake surveys of customers and staff when requested by MCA on a call off basis.
	(ii) Highways Agency:
	Engineering Services.
	Information on contracts let by non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

New Homes

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to require all new homes to be built equipped with (a) fire alarms and (b) sprinkler systems.

Alan Whitehead: When the fire safety aspects of the Building Regulations in Approved Document B were amended in 1992, provision was included for mains wired, interconnected smoke alarms to be provided in all new dwellings, resulting in new homes being provided with smoke alarms since 1992.
	Although there are currently no plans to revise the Building Regulations to include provisions for domestic sprinkler systems, we are keeping this under review in the light of emerging standards, and improvements in sprinkler technology. We have recently let two research contracts to look at the whole issue of residential and domestic sprinklers, including an assessment of their actual effectiveness and the undertaking of a Regulatory Impact Assessment to consider their costs and benefits. The results and conclusions of this work should be available around the end of 2003.
	We will need to await the findings of the research work referred to above, before we are in a position to consider more fully if the provision of residential sprinklers should be a requirement of the Building Regulations.

New Homes

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to require all new homes to be built as homes for life.

Sally Keeble: There is no intention currently to require all new homes to be built as homes for life in the sense of 'Lifetime Homes', as promoted by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. The need for more accessible homes is met by the general provisions of Building Regulations plus an assessment of specific local needs by each local authority.
	Since October 1999, Building Regulations have required key provisions to be made in all new homes which will enable disabled people to visit family and friends in their homes and enable occupants to cope better with reducing mobility and to 'stay-put' longer in their own homes. These provisions do not necessarily facilitate fully independent living for all disabled people as individual needs will vary considerably from case to case.
	In addition to the general provisions of Building Regulations, local authorities are required to collect information on their existing housing stock (both public and private sector) to inform their housing investment programme. Local house condition surveys are the best way of achieving this and the Department publishes good practice guidance 'Collecting, Managing and Using Housing Stock Information' DTLR 2000 to assist local authorities in undertaking such surveys. The content of surveys varies from survey to survey, depending upon the requirements for which it is being commissioned. Where information in relation to wheelchair access is required this can be specified as one of the aims of the survey.
	Planning policy guidance for housing (PPG3) requires local planning authorities to plan to meet the housing requirements of the whole community, including those in need of special needs housing. PPG3 stresses that a community's need for a mix of housing types is a material planning consideration which should be taken into account in formulating development plan policies and in deciding planning applications involving housing. The Department supports this through good practice guidance. "Better Places to Live", published in conjunction with the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, highlights the advantages of homes designed to adapt to the changing requirements of residents, particularly in terms of providing for reduced personal mobility.
	The Housing Corporation's Scheme Development Standards for all new build homes funded with Social Housing Grant already adopt the 'Lifetime Homes' criteria for both the external and internal environment in respect of user groups and visitors with limited mobility.

Housing Development

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of housing development has been undertaken on brownfield land since the Government adopted the 60 per cent. target.

Sally Keeble: The national target is that by 2008, 60 per cent. of additional housing should be provided on previously developed land and through conversions of existing buildings. The latest information available from the Department's Land Use Change Statistics is that between 1998 and 2000, about 57 per cent. of new dwellings were built on previously developed land (including new dwellings provided from the conversion of existing buildings, which account for 3 percentage points). These statistics are unlikely to reflect yet the effect of our planning policy for housing set out in PPG3 because of the time lag between granting planning permissions, completing dwellings and recording changes in the field.

Leicester Mayor

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects a referendum to be held regarding the election of a Mayor for Leicester.

Alan Whitehead: Leicester City Council have proposed a Leader and Cabinet constitution, and hence have no plans for a referendum on the election of a Mayor. As we have made clear to the Council, during the two-month period beginning on 13 September when they sent their proposals to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, we will be considering whether or not their circumstances include those where we may direct a referendum.

Overhead Powerlines

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will introduce a moratorium on the erection of overhead powerlines (a) in general and (b) near houses in rural areas.

Sally Keeble: We have no plans to introduce a moratorium on the erection of overhead power lines.

Road Schemes (East Anglia)

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment his Department has carried out of public opinion on (a) the building of a new motorway between the M25 and Chelmsford and (b) upgrading the A12 to a three lane route into East Anglia.

David Jamieson: The London to Ipswich Multi-Modal Study is currently underway and is looking at the ways in which all modes of transport can help to solve the existing transport problems in the corridor between London and Ipswich. As part of the study, there will be public consultation on options in the spring of 2002 following which a preferred option will be recommended which will take into account the results of the public consultation as well as the results of other analyses.

Road Schemes (East Anglia)

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the recommendation by its advisory body regarding proposals for a new motorway from the M25 to Chelmsford.

David Jamieson: The London to Ipswich Multi-Modal Study is currently underway and is looking at the ways in which all modes of transport can help to solve the existing transport problems in the corridor between London and Ipswich. As the study is not programmed to finish until July 2002 no recommendations from the study have yet been received by the Secretary of State.

Domestic Sprinkler Systems

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent estimate he has made of the value of domestic sprinkler systems in preventing deaths and injuries arising from domestic fires.

Alan Whitehead: None. The issue was last looked at by the Community Fire Safety Task Force in their 1997 report, "Safe as Houses." The Task Force concluded that sprinklers did not represent a solution in the medium term and considered the cost of nation wide installation in all existing domestic dwellings as being prohibitive. Similarly, the Task Force did not see any evidence to suggest the UK public is ready to accept the mandatory installation of sprinklers in their homes. They also felt that any mandatory installation would pose significant enforcement difficulties and could infringe upon the rights of private householders.
	However, the Government recognise that domestic sprinklers have a role to play in promoting life safety, particularly for the most vulnerable; the Fire Safety Advisory Board will continue to assess their value in the light of emerging standards, and improvements in sprinkler technology. We have, therefore, recently commissioned research into the benefits of sprinklers in residential properties, including the preparation of a Regulatory Impact Assessment. The results and conclusions from this work should be available in a little over two years from now.
	Additionally, the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, which we propose should replace the Housing Fitness Standard, includes guidance in respect of hazards from fire. Although not mandatory for houses of multiple occupation, sprinklers may well be recommended where the risk of fire is high.

Aviation Industry

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Government's action to support the aviation industry and communities dependent on airports.

David Jamieson: The Government have moved quickly to underwrite, on a temporary basis, third party war risk insurance for airlines and service providers to the airline industry, an initiative which has been widely copied elsewhere. The meeting of European Transport Ministers on 16 October endorsed guidelines issued by the Commission on emergency aid measures, and we will take these guidelines into account in considering whether further aid should be paid to the British airline industry. The Employment Service is working closely with the aviation industry and all the strategic partners (regional development agencies, local authorities and the Learning and Skills Council) to assess the impact of any redundancy announcements, and to introduce appropriate measures.

Community Transport Services (Fuel Duty Rebate)

John Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will publish plans for extending fuel duty rebate to a wider range of community transport services; and what plans he has to include school bus transport within the rebate scheme.

Sally Keeble: Following consultation with relevant organisations in the spring, we will be bringing forward regulations later in this financial year on the introduction of fuel duty rebate (FDR) for a wide range of community transport services.
	As far as school transport is concerned, bus services specifically designed to convey only pupils to school are not eligible for rebate. However, services provided or secured by a local education authority are eligible providing that some seats on the vehicles concerned are normally available to the general public and are regularly used by them. There are a large number of school services that do receive FDR by virtue of the fact that they meet these eligibility criteria.

Cycle Carriage (Railways)

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  if the level of cycle carriage on trains of a minimum of six cycles is specified in railway franchise agreements; and if they will be in future;
	(2)  what measures are in place to ensure that the existing level of capacity for cycle carriage on trains is retained when rolling stock is refurbished or replaced;
	(3)  what (a) guidance the Strategic Rail Authority has issued and (b) standards it has set for the provision of facilities for bicycles (i) on board new rolling stock and (ii) at stations; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: No specific guidance has been issued nor standards set with regard to the number of bicycles that are carried on trains or for the provision of facilities at stations. There are many different types of rolling stock in use on the network and the design of each largely dictates whether bicycles can be carried, and if so how many. Franchise agreements require train operators to carry bicycles on their services where it is practicable for them to do so, and subject to the availability of appropriate space. These arrangements will be maintained in future franchise agreements. The Strategic Rail Authority are obliged by their Directions and Guidance to discuss with train operators the provisions they are making for cycle carriage when ordering new stock. The Authority meet regularly with representatives from cycling organisations and has established a "flexible space" working group to look at how the interiors of rolling stock can be designed to make best use of available space for wheelchairs, pushchairs, bicycles or other bulky luggage.

Affordable Housing (Key Workers)

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to grant local authorities greater powers to specify quotas of affordable housing for key workers; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: Under the Starter Home Initiative we will be helping 10,000 key workers to buy their first homes over the three years 2001–02 to 2003–04, mainly through shared ownership or equity loans. A further 1,200 key workers will be able to buy or rent homes under the Housing Corporation's programme of new affordable housing. We are also looking afresh at planning guidance as a means of providing more opportunities for key worker housing.

Bed-and-breakfast Accommodation

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many children in local authority care were placed in bed-and- breakfast accommodation alone in the last year, broken down by local authority.

Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested is not collected centrally. The Department does collect data about placements of looked-after children in a broader category consisting of lodgings, residential employment or living independently. This data category does not denote whether the young person is living alone or with other people.
	On 31 March 2001, 1,100 looked-after young people in England were reported to be placed in this broader accommodation category. This represents 2 per cent. of all children who were looked after on that date.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Chief Crown Prosecutors

Keith Vaz: To ask the Solicitor-General how many and what percentage of chief Crown prosecutors are (a) black, (b) Asian and (c) women.

Harriet Harman: The Chief Crown Prosecution cadre comprises of 42 Chief Crown Prosecutors and five London-based Assistant Chief Crown Prosecutors, of whom 44 have provided details of their ethnic origin.
	The Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Recording the Ethnicity of Staff, in its guidance on the use of ethnicity data, states that:
	"It is Civil Service policy that where there are fewer than five people from any ethnic group identified in summaries, exact numbers will not be published".
	The statistics are:
	(a) fewer than five (less than 11.4 per cent.) have declared that they are black;
	(b) fewer than five (less than 11.4 per cent.) have declared they are Asian; and
	(c) Eight (17.0 per cent.) are female
	2000–01—of 14 appointed, none was as a member of an ethnic minority.
	C panel
	There are 73 members, of whom 27 are women.
	1999—of 48 appointed, one identified themselves as Asian; one as from some other group or class.
	2000—of 11 appointed, one identified themselves as Asian.
	2001—of 21 appointed, none was a member of an ethnic minority
	Provincial Panel
	There are 155 members, of whom 16 are women.
	2000—of 56 appointed; one identified themselves as black; one as Asian.
	The Law Officers are committed to promoting diversity and equal opportunity with respect to membership of the panels and actively encourage woman and ethnic minorities to apply. Advertisements for all recruitment exercises appear in the specialist legal journals "Bar News" and "The Law Society's Gazette" and state that women and members of ethnic minorities are particularly encouraged to apply.

Treasury Solicitors Panel

Keith Vaz: To ask the Solicitor-General how many members of the Treasury Solicitors Panel are (a) black, (b) Asian and (c) women.

Harriet Harman: The Attorney-General maintains three London panels for civil work, subdivided by seniority: A, for those with over 10 years' experience at the time of appointment; B, for those with between five and 10 years' experience at the time of appointment; and C, for those with between two and five years' experience at the time of appointment. The Attorney- General also maintains a Provincial Panel.
	No comprehensive data are held on the ethnic origin of all members of the panel. Since the introduction of a competitive appointments system in 1998 all applicants have been asked to complete an equal opportunities monitoring form which asks them to indicate their ethnic origin. Completion of the form is voluntary and in consequence the information given may not be entirely accurate. With regard to ethnic origin, I set out the results of the equal opportunity monitoring of the recruitment exercises since 1999.
	A panel
	There are currently 28 members, of whom four are women.
	1999—of 10 appointed, one identified themselves as black; one as Asian.
	2000—of 12 appointed, one identified themselves as Asian.
	B panel
	There are currently 77 members, of whom 18 are women.
	1999—of 23 appointed, two identified themselves as Asian.

Bar Council Complaints Committee

Chris Smith: To ask the Solicitor-General what assessment she has made of the handling of complaints submitted to the Bar Council Complaints Committee; what redress she intends to put in place for those who believe their complaint has not been given fair consideration; and if she plans to introduce changes to the complaints framework in relation to the actions of (a) barristers and (b) solicitors.

Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.
	The legal profession is self-regulating. The Bar Council's lay Complaints Commissioner deals with complaints about barristers. The Office for the Supervision of Solicitors (OSS) deals with complaints about solicitors. These complaints handling procedures are subject to independent scrutiny by the Legal Services Ombudsman. The ombudsman, who is a lay person, may consider complaints about the decision reached by the professional bodies, as well as concerns about the handling of a complaint and act accordingly. In the financial year 2000–01, the ombudsman was satisfied in 94 per cent. of referrals concerning complaints handling at the Bar, as opposed to a satisfaction rating of 57 per cent. for referrals concerning the OSS.
	The Lord Chancellor has reserve powers to appoint a Legal Services Complaints Commissioner (LSCC) if it appears to him that complaints about members of any professional body are not being handled effectively and efficiently. The Lord Chancellor has no plans to appoint an LSCC to oversee the Bar Council and is currently considering the position in respect of the OSS. His decision will be announced in due course.

TREASURY

EC Prospectus Directive

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact which the proposed EC Prospectus Directive will have on (a) the listing cost of small and medium size companies and (b) the availability of capital to growing businesses in the UK;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with representatives of the Alternative Investment Market and other representatives of the UK financial services industry regarding the EC Prospectus Directive;
	(3)  what measures he will take to reduce the impact of the EC Prospectus Directive on the Alternative Investment Market.

Ruth Kelly: An effective single passport for issuers was identified as a priority for completion of the single European market in financial services at the Lisbon Council in spring 2000. The UK Government are committed to ensuring that the Prospectus Directive meets this goal; and that it meets the aim of reducing the cost of raising capital for EU companies, including SMEs and growing businesses.
	The Directive, as currently drafted, could lead to an increase in the disclosure costs of small and medium size companies (SMEs), and the cost of accessing capital by SMEs. However, negotiations are at an early stage, and there are a number of issues that are as yet unclear, such as its relationship with other existing directives, and the way that its provisions will be used.
	HM Treasury has actively sought the views of interested parties, and is engaging with industry practitioners (including representatives of the Alternative Investment Market) through round-table consultation meetings. HM Treasury officials and Ministers are in close touch with the European Commission, the Belgian presidency, the European Parliament, and other member states of this and other directives which affect the financial services industry.

Company Tax

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has held with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry regarding the European Commission's proposals for a single consolidated company tax base announced in Brussels on 23 October.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government's position is that tax harmonisation, including proposals for a consolidated company tax base, is not the way forward for Europe.

Company Tax

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he supports the European Commission's plans for a consolidated EU company tax base announced in Brussels on 23 October.

Dawn Primarolo: Tax harmonisation, including proposals for a consolidated company tax base, is not the way forward for Europe. The Government will not support any action at European level that will threaten jobs or the competitive position of British business.

Company Tax

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the need for further EU-level reforms of company taxation to achieve the economic goals established at the Lisbon European Council of March 2000.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government's view is that company tax issues need to be considered in the context of the economic goals established at the Lisbon European Council and the business agenda agreed at the Stockholm European Council, which means reducing unfair state aids, acting against unfair tax competition, promoting R and D and innovation, a better, simpler regulatory environment and boosting skills.

Company Tax

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the European Commission's proposals for the introduction of a consolidated company tax base across the EU would be introduced by qualified majority voting.

Dawn Primarolo: Decisions in this area are subject to unanimity. Tax harmonisation, including proposals for a consolidated company tax base, is not the way forward for Europe.

Company Tax

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of the variation in effective company tax rates across the EU.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government's view is that fair tax competition not tax harmonisation is the way forward for Europe. The Government are committed to ensuring that the UK remains an attractive location for business, with strong international links and high levels of both inward and outward investment.

Company Tax

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a breakdown of the effective company tax burden in each EU state.

Dawn Primarolo: There are a number of approaches that can be used to calculate effective company tax burdens. Information is contained in a variety of sources, including the OECD's publication "Revenue Statistics 1965–2000" and the Commission's Communication "Towards an internal market without tax obstacles: a strategy for providing companies with a consolidated corporate tax base for their EU-wide activities" (COM(2001)582), both of which are available in the Library of the House.

Investment

Robert Key: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what forecasts he has made on the level of investment into the UK over the next three years.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 30 October 2001
	Inward investment into the UK is a component of the balance of payments financial account, and only part of it contributes to UK gross domestic fixed capital formation. The Government do not produce forecasts for the components of the balance of payments financial account.

Double Taxation

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has held with European finance ministers regarding proposals for changes to EU-wide double taxation.

Dawn Primarolo: Double taxation treaties are a matter for member states not for the EU.

Former Nationalised Industries

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement regarding shareholding for employees in former nationalised industries.

Andrew Smith: Shareholdings held by employees of former nationalised industries are a matter for each individual company.

Climate Change Levy

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how much the climate change levy will cost British industry in the first year of its operation.

Paul Boateng: The climate change levy will raise an estimated £1 billion a year, all of which will be recycled back to business through cuts in the employers' rate of national insurance contributions and support for energy efficiency. While the levy is broadly revenue neutral across manufacturing and service sectors, its exact effect on any specific sector or industry will depend on a number of factors including: the future energy consumption of firms in the sector and employment levels in those firms; the number of energy intensive firms in that sector that are eligible to receive a discount on the main rates of the levy by signing up to an energy efficiency agreement; and what use firms in that sector make of electricity generated from levy exempt 'new' renewable sources of energy and combined heat and power.

Railtrack

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what provision is made for Railtrack in the 2000–01 Government budget.

John Spellar: I have been asked to reply.
	No provision was made for any direct payments from the UK Government to Railtrack in the financial year 2000–01.

Railtrack

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revision he has made to his public expenditure provision for Railtrack in 2000–01, following the decision to put the company into administration.

John Spellar: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have made no revisions to their public expenditure provisions for Railtrack for the financial year 2000–01.

Railtrack

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the planned £30 billion public investment in the railway industry in the 10-Year-Plan is in the budget for the next three years; and how much of that amount is earmarked for Railtrack.

John Spellar: I have been asked to reply.
	The 10-Year-Plan for Transport set out £14.7 billion of public investment expenditure for rail over the next 10 years, with the remainder of the public support total constituting revenue support.
	Of the public investment total, around £3.6 billion was for the first three years. The majority of this amount was earmarked for renewals network grants to Railtrack.

Registered Designs Regulations

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason it was necessary to include the provisions of section 1(i)(c) of schedule A1 of the Registered Designs Regulations 2001.

Melanie Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the question answered, on 1 November 2001, Official Report column 778W.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

International Swimming Events

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what stadiums there are in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) London capable of holding international swimming events under the auspices of FINA;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the level of investment needed to upgrade United Kingdom (a) international athletics and (b) international swimming stadiums to international competition standards; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 29 October 2001
	There are a number of athletics and swimming facilities across the United Kingdom that are used regularly for international athletics and swimming events which meet IAAF and FINA standards. The main athletics stadiums are: Crystal Palace in London, the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, the Gateshead Stadium, the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield, the Meadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh and the Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow. The main swimming centres used for international 50 metre competition are the Ponds Forge Centre in Sheffield and the new Manchester Aquatics Centre.
	Sport England has set aside £21 million from the National Lottery to fund a regional high performance centre at Crystal Palace which will have improved facilities for athletics, boxing, swimming and tennis. The refurbishment will bring the existing 50 metre pool up to FINA standards.

World Cup 2002

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to introduce a deregulation order to allow more flexible liquor licensing during the football World Cup Finals in 2002.

Kim Howells: None. The statutory consultation and the periods for parliamentary scrutiny and approval set out in the Regulatory Reform Act 2001 for making a regulatory reform order could not be completed by the time of the World Cup Finals next June. The hospitality and leisure industry has made no formal request to have licensing hours varied to allow them to serve alcohol during early morning games. As the games will be shown on BBC and ITV terrestrial television channels, the public demand to attend licensed premises to watch the games is now likely to be limited. However, licensed premises which do wish to open very early to sell alcohol during televised games can apply for special orders of exemption from the magistrates courts (and in London, from the Commissioners of Police for the City and the Metropolis) in respect of this special occasion, and under the terms of the Licensing Act 1964 it is for the magistrates, or the chief officers of police in London, to decide whether any additional hours should be permitted.

Departmental Assets

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what stocks of (a) antiques, (b) paintings and (c) fine wines are held by her Department; if she will list such assets sold over the last three years together with the sale proceeds from such transactions; what plans she has to sell further such assets over the period of the current comprehensive spending review; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: holding answer 31 October 2001
	The Government Art Collection is the only collection of art for which the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has direct responsibility. The collection at present comprises approximately 12,000 works of art. None of these has been sold over the last three years, nor are there any plans to do so. The Department holds no stocks of antiques or fine wines.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Regulatory Impact Assessments

Karen Buck: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list those regulatory impact assessments published during the latest six-month period.

Christopher Leslie: The Government are committed to ensuring that regulations are necessary, give effective protection, balance cost and risk, are fair and command public confidence. In accordance with this, we require Departments to produce and publish regulatory impact assessments for all regulatory proposals likely to have an impact on business.
	I have presented to Parliament today a Command Paper listing regulatory impact assessments published between 1 January and 30 June 2001. Copies of those listed have been placed in the House Libraries. This is the fifteenth such Command Paper.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Foxhunting

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Masters of Foxhounds Association about the restarting of foxhunting.

Alun Michael: holding answer 25 October 2001
	Officials from this Department have met a number of organisations including the Masters of Foxhound Association regarding the possible relaxation of foot and mouth disease controls over foxhunting.

Institute for Animal Health

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will list the places of origin of cattle tested in error during the recent work undertaken by the Institute for Animal Health;
	(2)  if she will publish the results of the recent work undertaken by the Institute for Animal Health on cattle brains which were tested in error.

Elliot Morley: DEFRA has commissioned two independent audits to investigate the provenance of the samples used by the Institute of Animal Health. The reports of these audits will be published. Any publication of results from experiments will depend upon the findings of the audit teams.

Arable Agrimoney

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received from the First Minister for Scotland, about the payment of arable agrimoney; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received from (a) the Scottish Executive and (b) the Scottish Rural Development Department on the matter of agrimonetary compensation; and what her response was.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 23 October 2001
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has been involved in discussion with Ministers from the devolved Administrations about the issue of agrimonetary compensation for the arable sector. In addition, Ross Finnie, the Scottish Executive Minister for Environment and Rural Development has written to my noble Friend the Under-Secretary, Lord Whitty, on this subject.

Foot and Mouth

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment the Government have made of the Council for the Protection of Rural England's report on the handling of the foot and mouth crisis.

Alun Michael: The council for the Protection of Rural England's report "The Strategic Lessons of the foot-and-mouth outbreak" contains much which accords with the recommendations in the reports from the rural task force, which I chair, and from my noble Friend Lord Haskins on the impact of foot and mouth disease on the wider rural economy. Both reports were published on 18 October. We are currently considering their recommendations and will respond shortly, taking the views expressed in the CPRE report fully into account.

Foot and Mouth

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the independent inquiries into the foot and mouth outbreak will make recommendations.

Elliot Morley: The Royal Society Inquiry into Infectious Diseases in Livestock has been asked to make recommendations by summer 2002. Dr. Iain Anderson's "Lessons Learned" Inquiry had been asked to make recommendations six months after it has officially started.

Veterinary Medicines Directorate

Kali Mountford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what has been the outcome of the Quinquennial and Better Quality Services Reviews of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.

Elliot Morley: After having undertaken both a consultation exercise and detailed reviews of the functions, form and performance of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate over the past five years, I have concluded that they should remain an Executive Agency for another term. The reviews established that the retention of agency status would be the most appropriate means of delivering high quality and cost-effective services over the next five years.
	The Better Quality Services stage of the reviews has specifically identified measures to ensure continuous improvement in VMD's quality of service and cost effectiveness.

SCOTLAND

Prestwick Air Traffic Control Centre

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with representatives from the National Air Traffic Services about the effects of the downturn in air travel on the development of the Prestwick Air Traffic Control Centre; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Liddell: My officials are in regular contact with representatives from the National Air Traffic Services (NATS), and with officials from DTLR, about matters relating to the Prestwick Air Traffic Control Centre.
	The Government and NATS both remain committed to the new centre in Prestwick.

Boundary Commission

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Boundary Commission for Scotland will release its initial report.

Helen Liddell: This is a matter for the Boundary Commission for Scotland.

PRIME MINISTER

Standards in Public Life

Jackie Lawrence: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Committee on Standards in Public Life.

Tony Blair: I am pleased to announce that I have appointed my right hon. Friend the Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) as a member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life with effect from 15 October. He is the member nominated by the Labour party and takes the place of Lord Shore of Stepney who sadly passed away over the summer.

Special Advisers

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Prime Minister on what criteria salaries of particular special advisers are decided.

Tony Blair: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for South Thanet (Dr. Ladyman) on 20 July 2001, Official Report, column 467W.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Prison Service

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give the reasons for the decision of the prison service in Northern Ireland to withdraw the royal prefix from letter headings of H.M. Prison Maghaberry.

Jane Kennedy: There has been no change in policy in regard to the naming of prison establishments. Establishments can and have been referred to officially both as HMP and by name only.
	The inclusion or exclusion of the royal prefix is at the discretion of the governing Governor of each establishment.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Congo

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the export of a water purification unit to Uruguay for ultimate end-use in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Ben Bradshaw: Following consultations with this Department and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry issued an export licence for a water purification unit to Uruguay for the Uruguayan armed forces. The equipment will be used by the Uruguayan army in the DRC where they are part of the United Nations operation. The equipment will provide the Uruguayans with sufficient clean water for their troops operating in the DRC. As part of the United Nations Mission in Congo, these troops, along with other UN agencies and NGOs, will play a role in facilitating humanitarian assistance to the Congolese people. This decision is consistent with and does not affect the Government's continued support for the EU declaration of 7 April 1993 on arms exports to the DRC.

Congo

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to (a) the Rwandan Government and (b) the Ugandan Government concerning their involvement in the war in the Congo.

Ben Bradshaw: In recent months my noble Friend Baroness Amos and the Secretary of State for International Development have spoken personally to the Presidents of both countries about their involvement in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They stressed the need for a peaceful end to the conflict in compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolutions. We will continue to do so at every opportunity.

EU Business

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the (a) forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for November and (b) major European Union events for the period 31 December to April 2002.

Peter Hain: The information is as follows:
	
		
			 November Venue Event 
		
		
			 5 Brussels Cultural and Audio-visual Council 
			 6 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 8 Brussels Development and Co-operation Council 
			 12 Brussels Employment and Social Affairs Council 
			 15 Brussels Health Council 
			 16 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs Council 
			 19–20 Brussels General Affairs Council 
			 21–22 Brussels Budget Council 
			 26 Brussels Internal Market, Consumers and Tourism Council 
			 27 Brussels Fisheries Council 
			 29 Brussels Education and Youth Council 
			   
			  No agendas are available yet 
		
	
	The following are the principal events in the EU between 1 December and April 2002 (certain relevant events are also included: the list is based on the information available at the date of issue).
	
		
			 Month Venue Event 
		
		
			  December 
			 3 Brussels Employment and Social Affairs Council 
			 4 Bruges Culture Council (Ministerial Informal) 
			 4 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 4 Brussels Energy Council 
			 4 Brussels Industry Council 
			 7–8 Brussels Transport and Telecommunications Council 
			 7–8 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs Council 
			 10–11 Brussels General Affairs Council 
			 10 Brussels Research Council 
			 12–13 Brussels Environment Council 
			 14–15 Laeken European Council 
			 17–18 Brussels Fisheries Council 
			 18–19 Brussels Agriculture Council 
			
			  January 
			 8 Brussels Political and Security Committee 
			 10 Brussels Fisheries Council 
			 11 Brussels Political and Security Committee 
			 17 Brussels Budget Council (Evening) 
			 18 Brussels Political and Security Committee 
			 21–22 Brussels Agriculture Council 
			 21 Brussels Eurogroup (Evening) 
			 21 Brussels Political and Security Committee (Political Director) Spain 
			 22 Brussels ECOFIN 
			
			 January   
			 25 Brussels Political and Security Committee 
			 25–26 Brussels Meeting of Employment Ministers (Ministerial Informal) 
			 28–29 Brussels General Affairs Council 
			 30 Brussels Political and Security Committee 
			
			  February 
			 1 Brussels Political and Security Committee 
			 7 Budapest Political Directors Seminar 
			 9–10 Brussels Gymnich (Ministerial Informal) 
			 11 Brussels Eurogroup (Evening) 
			 12 Brussels Political and Security Committee 
			 14 Brussels Education and Youth Council 
			 14–15 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs Council (Ministerial Informal) 
			 18–19 Brussels General Affairs Council 
			 18–19 Brussels Agriculture Council 
			 20 Brussels Political and Security Committee 
			 22–23 Brussels Telecoms and Information Society Council (Ministerial Informal) 
			 26 Brussels Political and Security Committee 
			 28 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs Council 
			
			 March   
			 1 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs Council (Evening) 
			 1 Brussels Internal Market, Consumers and Tourism Council 
			 1 Brussels Political and Security Committee 
			 4 Brussels Eurogroup (Evening) 
			 5 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 5 Brussels Political and Security Committee 
			 7 Brussels Employment and Social Affairs Council 
			 8 Brussels Political and Security Committee 
			 11 Brussels Research Council 
			 11–12 Brussels General Affairs Council 
			 12 Brussels Political and Social Affairs Committee 
			 15–16 Barcelona European Council 
			 18–19 Brussels Agriculture Council 
			 19 Brussels Political and Security Committee 
			 21 Brussels Environment 
			 22 Brussels Political and Security Committee 
			 23–24 Brussels Defence Meeting (Ministerial Informal) 
			 25–26 Brussels Transport and Telecom Council 
			 26 Brussels Political and Security Committee 
			
			 April   
			 5–6 Luxembourg Migrations Council (ASEM Ministerial Informal) 
			 8 Luxembourg Fisheries Council 
			 9 Luxembourg Political and Security Committee 
			 12 Luxembourg Political and Security Committee 
			 13–14 Luxembourg ECOFIN (Ministerial Informal) 
			 15–16 Luxembourg General Affairs Council 
			 17 Luxembourg Political and Security Committee (EV) 
			 19 Luxembourg Political and Security Committee 
			 22–23 Valencia Euromed Conference 
			 22–23 Luxembourg Agriculture Council 
			 25–26 Luxembourg Justice and Home Affairs Council 
			 26 Luxembourg Political and Security Committee 
			 27–30 Luxembourg Agriculture Council (Ministerial Informal) 
			 30 Luxembourg Political and Security Committee

Pakistan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent killings of Christians in Pakistan.

Ben Bradshaw: We condemn the attack on a church in Punjab on 28 October in which 18 people were killed. We welcome General Musharraf's assurances that the perpetrators of this heinous act will be brought to justice.
	Our thoughts are with the victims and their families and with all those who have suffered at the hands of terrorists.

Pakistan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Pakistani Government with regard to human rights abuses against Christians.

Ben Bradshaw: We take the issue of religious freedom in Pakistan very seriously. We continue to raise the position of religious minorities in general and a number of individual cases with the Pakistani authorities, both bilaterally and in concert with our EU partners.
	We will continue to take every appropriate opportunity to ask the Pakistani authorities to ensure that the rights of all religious minorities in Pakistan, including Christians, are respected under the constitution.

Sudan

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Sudan regarding the bombing of Bahr al Ghazal in southern Sudan.

Ben Bradshaw: We are deeply concerned at these further reports of civilian casualties. In June the Government of Sudan made a public statement announcing that they had brought a halt to aerial bombings. Shortly afterwards, the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) launched a major offensive in Bahr al Ghazal, and the Government of Sudan in turn resumed aerial bombings. We immediately prompted an EU statement expressing our concern at the renewed military activity by the SPLA, and at the Government of Sudan's resumption of aerial bombings. We urged both sides to immediately stop hostilities in order to create an environment conducive to negotiations and to engage in a continuous and sustained negotiation towards a just and lasting political settlement.

Sudan

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to meet John Garang, leader of the SPLA in Sudan; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: We have invited Dr. John Garang to visit London. Until he is able to visit London, we shall continue to keep in contact with him and the SPLM/A through our Embassy in Khartoum and our High Commission in Nairobi. The pursuit of peace in Sudan remains the focus of our activity and, in doing so, we believe that it is important to engage with all parties to the conflict.

Diamond Trade

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made with the establishment of a global certification scheme for rough diamonds.

Peter Hain: Government, industry and NGO representatives in the Kimberley Process are currently meeting in Angola to refine proposals for the establishment of an international certification scheme for rough diamonds. At the last meeting (Twickenham, 11 to 13 September) members agreed in principle on key elements for the scheme. We hope to build on this agreement in Angola, and forge a consensus in time for the ministerial meeting in Botswana scheduled for the end of November. The proposal will go forward to the UN General Assembly before the end of the year. The UK is continuing its key role in the Process and remains committed to the goal of curbing the flow of conflict diamonds.

North Africa

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made with the (a) Sudanese IGAD peace process and (b) Egypt-Libya initiative.

Ben Bradshaw: We have been disappointed with progress made by the Inter-governmental Authority Development (IGAD) initiative. At the time of the last IGAD summit in Nairobi on 2 June, the Sudan People's Liberation Army launched a major offensive in southern Sudan. Accordingly, neither party was willing to show flexibility on a ceasefire or the negotiations. We were encouraged, however, with the agreement by both parties to appoint permanent negotiating teams. These teams have now been established and should allow for more sustained and accelerated negotiations to take place. We are currently looking at further ways to invigorate the peace process. The sponsors of the Egyptian-Libyan initiative have submitted to the parties a plan for negotiating a peace settlement. As far as we are aware there has not yet been a round table discussion attended by all sides to deliberate the plan.

UN World Conference Against Racism

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial contribution he made to the preparation and running of the UN World Conference against Racism; and if he will rank the UK contribution against that of other UN member states (a) according to size of contribution and (b) according to proportion of GNP.

Peter Hain: The total contribution made by the Government to the holding of the UN World Conference against Racism was £485,000. This contribution included financial and practical support to the Conference Secretariat (the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights); to the South African NGO SANGOCO co-ordinating the holding of the Conference NGO Forum; and to other relevant bodies to encourage the widest possible participation on the Conference and its preparatory meeting by civil society.
	There are no data available on total contributions made by other UN member states to the World Conference process. Therefore it has not been possible to draw any direct comparisons. In terms of financial contributions to the Conference Secretariat (ie excluding practical support to the Secretariat and funding for non-Secretariat activities), the UK contribution of £100,000 was the 12th largest received from a UN member state. In addition, the European Union contributed US $2,613,859 to the Secretariat in support of the preparation and running of the conference.

Biological Weapons Protocol

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the draft text of the biological weapons protocol; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary had a brief discussion on the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) with the US Secretary of State, in Washington, on 24 October. The United States has not changed its position since it announced its decision, on 25 July, in Geneva, that it could not support the draft protocol and that it could not be made acceptable by further amendment. The United States has, however, made it clear that it remains committed to strengthening the BWC. The United Kingdom is continuing to work with states parties to ensure that multilateral negotiations resume at an early stage, following the 5th Review Conference in Geneva (19 November to 7 December). The United Kingdom remains committed to strengthening the convention by means of effective investigation and enforcement.

Egypt

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice he is offering to schools who have arranged visits for pupils to Egypt and neighbouring countries.

Ben Bradshaw: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provides travel advice, which is broad based and applies to all travellers, on the basis of the information we receive from our staff on the ground. The advice is kept under constant review. The advice is practical and up to date. It presents the facts to allow travellers to make their own decisions about travel. We are not currently advising against travel to Egypt and neighbouring countries.
	Following the terrorist attacks in the US and subsequent military action in Afghanistan, we have been alerting British nationals that there may be heightened tension overseas. We are consequently advising all travellers to maintain a high level of vigilance and avoid situations where there might be tension. However, apart from the countries in our "don't go" list, we are not currently aware of specific threat to British nationals.
	FCO travel advice is available on the FCO's website www.fco.gov.uk and by telephone on 020 7008 0232/ 0233, by fax on 020 7008 0155/0164 or on written request to our Travel Advice Unit.

European Single Sky Agreement

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of excluding Gibraltar from the European single sky agreement.

Peter Hain: We consider that the commission's proposed Single Sky package offers the best way of reducing delays and improving safety, and is essential for improving the use and management of EU airspace. Spain insisted that Gibraltar airport be suspended from the scope of application of the Single Sky legislative measures. Given the importance which the UK attaches to the initiative, we reluctantly agreed that clauses suspending the application of the measure to Gibraltar airport will be inserted when the proposal is considered by the Council.
	Suspending Gibraltar airport in this way from the Commission's proposed measures will have no practical impact on the operation of Gibraltar airport, since the focus of the Commission's proposal is on the organisation and use of the upper airspace and on the management of Europe's air traffic service providers.
	We made clear to both Spain and the Commission that our agreement on Single Sky was conditional upon the Commission itself bringing forward a proposal which did not contain the suspension clauses, and on a Council and Commission minutes statement, making clear that suspension does not in any way prejudice the application of the EC Treaty to Gibraltar. Our agreement was also without prejudice to Council discussion of future aviation proposals.
	We have agreed a similar formula with regard to the Commission's proposal for a Regulation on aviation security. The Spanish Government made clear that they would not agree to the measure unless Gibraltar airport was suspended. Given the crucial importance of this measure for the EU's wider counter-terrorism agenda, we were not prepared to see progress delayed. Again, we are confident that suspension will have no practical impact on the operation of Gibraltar airport. The main purpose of the proposal is to require member states to enforce ECAC standards of security. We, and the Government of Gibraltar, can still ensure, through separate measures, that Gibraltar airport is subject to at least as high a degree of monitoring and control as other Community airports, without a requirement to do so in Community law.

Sierra Leone

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Sierra Leone.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government's strategy towards Sierra Leone was set out in the Foreign Secretary's statement to the House on 6 June 2000. That strategy remains valid. Our objective is to ensure that the people of Sierra Leone are offered a realistic prospect of peace and stability.
	Since the intervention of UK forces in May 2000 we have made good progress in helping the Government of Sierra Leone and the United Nations restore peace. There has been an effective ceasefire in place since May 2001. Some 20,000 combatants have now entered the disarmament process. The Revolutionary United Front has committed itself to a political agenda. Training by UK forces has transformed the Sierra Leone Army into a more effective and accountable force, but a significant challenge remains. We are now working hard with the United Nations and international partners to consolidate the peace, prepare the ground for free and fair elections in May 2002, and mobilise resources to rehabilitate Sierra Leone's shattered communities, institutions and economy.

Holocaust Memorial Day

Tony Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans have been made by (a) his Department and (b) institutions involved in the preparations for Holocaust Memorial Day 2002.

Peter Hain: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, 1 November 2001, Official Report, column 851W.

HEALTH

Care Home Standards

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will (a) list the groups consulted on the drafting of care home standards; (b) publish the representations he received from those consulted, (c) indicate where these documents will be published; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The Department received 1,250 responses on "Fit for the future". A summary of these was placed on the website when the National Minimum Standards for Older People was published in March 2001. The Department has received 500 responses to the younger adult and adult placement standards and a summary of these findings will be made available in due course.

Winter Pressures

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional resources he plans to provide to (a) Worcestershire county council and (b) Worcestershire health authority to relieve winter pressures and to enable patients to be transferred from hospitals to more appropriate care; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: On 9 October we announced a £300 million 'cash for change' initiative to tackle delayed transfers. This programme of investment and reform will help to free up beds in hospitals, reduce waiting times for treatment and ensure patients, particularly older people, are cared for in the most appropriate place. The resources will be used to purchase residential and nursing care, intensive home care and intermediate care from local providers.
	Worcestershire county council is due to receive an allocation of £713,000 from the £100 million being allocated this year and Worcestershire health authority received an extra £382,000 in April to help it prepare for winter pressures.

Hospital Beds (Worcestershire)

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the number of beds inappropriately occupied in (a) acute hospitals and (b) community hospitals in Worcestershire; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: As at week ending 7 October 2001 it has been reported that the number of delayed transfers of care patients occupying national health service beds in the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust was 74, and 19 in the Worcestershire Community and Mental Health NHS Trust.
	Worcestershire social services and the local health economy are working collaboratively to address existing needs. Worcestershire county council is due to receive an allocation of £713,000 from our 'cash for change' initiative. Worcestershire health authority also received an extra £382,000 in April to help it prepare for winter pressures.

Pharmacies (NHSnet)

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to connect pharmacies to NHSnet.

Jacqui Smith: Our information strategy for the modern national health service 1998–2005—"Information for Health", published September 1998 stated that by the end of 2001 a project will be established to explore ways of using the NHSnet to link all computerised general practitioner practices to local community pharmacies. Both of these groups would link to the Prescription Pricing Authority. "Pharmacy in the Future—Implementing the NHS Plan", published in September 2000 pledged that electronic transfer of prescriptions would be introduced in the community by 2004.
	The Department is working with the commercial sector to establish pilots to test the feasibility, benefits and costs of e-prescribing across the NHSnet. Good progress has been made since my noble Friend the Lord Hunt of Kings Health announced on 29 March 2001 the approval of three pilots to test the benefits, costs and risks of electronic transmission of prescriptions.

Mental Health Services

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff vacancies there are in the mental health sector of the NHS (a) nationally and (b) in each region.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is shown in the tables. Staff working in the Mental Health Sector are collected for the following disciplines:
	
		Table 1: Department of Health vacancies survey, March 2001: Vacancies in NHS trusts by region—three month vacancy rates(6),(7)
		
			  Percentage  
			  England(8) Northern & Yorkshire Trent West Midlands North West Eastern London South East South West 
		
		
			  Specific consultant specialties(9)   
			 Forensic psychiatry 5.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 18.2 0.0 8.5 7.7 (10)— 
			 General psychiatry 7.8 8.2 4.0 11.0 12.2 5.8 7.5 10.2 1.3 
			 Learning disabilities 13.3 13.5 26.3 8.3 21.7 10.3 12.2 11.1 6.7 
			 Old age psychiatry 9.3 10.0 11.4 7.9 14.6 16.1 2.3 8.5 0.0 
			   
			  Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 
			 Community learning disabilities 1.7 0.2 0.0 2.5 0.2 0.0 3.2 4.6 1.4 
			 Other learning disabilities 3.4 4.7 1.3 4.2 0.8 1.0 6.2 5.0 5.1 
			 Community psychiatry 2.6 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.7 0.2 7.9 3.6 0.3 
			 Other psychiatry 3.9 3.8 1.6 2.1 2.0 1.9 7.3 6.1 2.3 
			   
			  Qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff   
			 Clinical psychology 4.3 5.5 1.6 3.2 2.3 3.9 6.5 4.1 2.5 
			 Psychotherapy 2.0 5.6 3.4 5.0 1.8 0.0 1.7 2.7 0.0 
		
	
	(6) Three month vacancies are vacancies as at 31 March 2001 which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole-time equivalents)
	(7) Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post from the September 2000 medical and dental and non-medical work force censuses (whole-time equivalent)
	(8) England percentages include staff from Special health authorities.
	(9) There are two other specialties (Child and adolescent psychiatry and psychotherapy) that were not separately identified in the vacancy survey and are therefore not included here, but are in the total consultant figures.
	(10) Figures based on less than 10 staff in post.
	Note:
	Percentages rounded to one decimal place
	Source:
	Department of Health Vacancies Survey 2001
	
		Table 2: Vacancies in NHS trusts by region: three month vacancy rates(11)
		
			  Whole-time equivalents  
			  England(12) Northern & Yorkshire Trent West Midlands North West Eastern London South East South West 
		
		
			  Specific consultant specialties(13)   
			 Forensic psychiatry 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (14)— 
			 General psychiatry 130 20 10 20 30 10 30 30 0 
			 Learning disabilities 30 10 10 0 10 0 0 0 0 
			 Old age psychiatry 30 10 0 0 10 10 0 10 0 
			   
			  Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff   
			 Community learning disabilities 60 0 0 110 0 0 10 30 0 
			 Other learning disabilities 180 40 10 20 10 10 10 50 20 
			 Community psychiatry 280 20 10 10 20 0 150 60 0 
			 Other psychiatry 1,040 130 40 60 80 50 380 220 50 
			   
			  Qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff   
			 Clinical psychology 190 30 10 20 10 10 70 30 10 
			 Psychotherapy 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	(11) Three month vacancies are vacancies as at 31 March 2001 which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole-time equivalents)
	(12) England totals include staff from Special health authorities
	(13) There are two other specialties (Child and adolescent psychiatry and psychotherapy) that were not separately identified in the vacancy survey and are therefore not included here, but are in the total consultant figures
	(14) Figures based on less than 10 staff in post
	Notes:
	Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10
	Totals may not equal sum of component parts due to rounding
	Source:
	Departmental of Health Vacancies Survey 2001
	
		Table 3: Department of Health workforce census: staff in post in NHS trusts by region
		
			  Whole-time equivalents  
			  England(15) Northern & Yorkshire Trent West Midlands North West Eastern London South East South West 
		
		
			  Specific consultant specialties(16) 
			 Forensic psychiatry 150 10 10 10 10 10 40 10 0 
			 General psychiatry 1,490 170 140 130 180 110 380 230 150 
			 Learning disabilities 170 30 10 20 20 30 20 20 10 
			 Old age psychiatry 300 60 30 30 40 30 40 50 20 
			   
			  Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 
			 Community learning disabilities 3,340 430 250 590 490 510 310 630 140 
			 Other learning disabilities 5,060 810 660 510 760 610 220 1,010 470 
			 Community psychiatry 10,190 1,320 1,000 1,180 1,230 980 1,730 1,720 1,030 
			 Other psychiatry 25,610 3,280 2,520 2,510 3,690 2,220 4,490 3,360 2,240 
			   
			  Qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff 
			 Clinical psychology 4,050 510 310 500 490 270 920 600 390 
			 Psychotherapy 410 20 30 20 30 30 200 50 30 
		
	
	(15) England totals include staff from special health authorities
	(16) There are two other specialities (Child and adolescent psychiatry and psychotherapy) that were not separately identified
	Notes:
	1. Whole-time equivalents are rounded to the nearest 10
	2. Totals may not equal sum of component parts due to rounding
	3. Rates percentages can not be calculated from these figures
	Sources:
	Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census 2000
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census 2000

Mental Health Services

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women-only mental health day centres (a) have been established and (b) are planned to be established (i) in the current financial year, (ii) in 2002–03 and (iii) in 2003–04.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 31 October 2001
	A target has been set to ensure that women-only mental health day centres are in place in every health authority by 2004. Currently the Department knows of 88 women-only community day centres and services being run by the voluntary sector and supported, in part, by statutory sector funding. A considerable amount of development work is under way to further strengthen the delivery of high quality mental health services for women including the production of a national women's mental health strategy in 2002. The strategy document will describe the service specification for the provision of women-only mental health day centres and services, against which we will measure progress to ensure that this target is achieved by 2004.

Mental Health Services

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the work of the Anam Cara mental health crisis house in Birmingham; and if he will make a statement on the efficacy of such alternatives to hospital care.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 31 October 2001
	The full report on the evaluation of services at the Anam Cara mental health crisis house is not due to be published until the new year. However, I understand that initial reports are very favourable.
	For many people crisis houses such as Anam Cara can provide an appropriate alternative to hospital and help to meet the particular needs of women and of ethnic minority communities, especially where additional support can be provided. They can complement the 335 crisis resolution teams that we will be developing across the country over the next three years as we deliver the mental health commitments we set out in the NHS plan.

Mental Health Services

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many out of area crisis mental health admissions which are not clinically indicated have taken place in each month of 2001 to date.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 31 October 2001
	The information requested is not available centrally.

Mental Health Services

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what local reviews of mental health services (a) have so far taken place and (b) are proposed in the current financial year.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 31 October 2001
	The Department has co-ordinated two reviews of mental health services since the publication of the mental health National Service Framework in 1999. They have been co-ordinated through the local implementation teams (LITs).
	In this financial year, the Department announced via the "Mental Health Policy Implementation Guide" that LITs should co-ordinate a comprehensive review of mental health services as part of the planning process required for implementation of the NHS Plan targets and mental health NSF targets. This process was aligned with the local modernisation reviews, which health authorities were required to co-ordinate as part of the implementation of all NHS Plan targets.

Continuing Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 22 October 2001, Official Report, column 28W, on continuing care, if he will set out for each of the last five years (a) the total number of people in each year newly meeting the eligibility criteria for continuing NHS health care and (b) the total number of people meeting the eligibility criteria.

Jacqui Smith: The available information has been placed in the Library.

Continuing Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if health authorities are required to comply with the judgment of Coughlan v. North Devon health authority before coming to a decision on eligibility criteria for continuing care.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 29 October 2001
	We issued interim guidance on 11 August 1999 (Health Service Circular 1999/180: Local Authority Circular (99)30). This requires health and local authorities, in consultation with each other and, where appropriate, involving primary care groups, to satisfy themselves that their continuing and community care policies and eligibility criteria and other relevant procedures are in line with the Court of Appeal judgment on the Coughlan case and to take further legal advice where necessary.
	Revised continuing care guidance was issued on 28 June 2001 (HSC 2001/015:LAC (2001)18) which consolidated guidance on continuing national health service health care in light of the judgment.

Continuing Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements health authorities are required to put in place for the provision of independent advice for patients in NHS beds when they are asked to sign forms about continuing care.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 1 November 2001
	We have already begun to establish patient advocacy and liaison services—to be operating in every national health service trust from April 2002—to provide information to patients, their families and carers when they use health services, to provide support when services do not meet user's needs and where possible to sort out problems efficiently and quickly.

In-patient Lists

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list in (a) rank and (b) alphabetical order of health authority, the proportion of patients waiting a year or more for in-patient treatment (i) at the latest available date and (ii) in April 1997.

John Hutton: The information requested is shown in the tables.
	
		Percentage of patients on in-patient waiting list over 12 months
		
			   Percentage of patients waiting over 12 months  
			 Health authorities ranked alphabetically: August 2001 March 1997 June 1997 
		
		
			 Avon 6.5 3.9 7.1 
			 Barking and Havering 6.1 3.3 4.0 
			 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey 6.9 n/a n/a 
			 Barnsley 0.4 2.3 2.1 
			 Bedfordshire 7.0 1.3 2.6 
			 Berkshire 3.7 2.6 3.7 
			 Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich 5.8 n/a n/a 
			 Birmingham 2.0 0.1 0.3 
			 Bradford 0.8 0.3 5.0 
			 Brent and Harrow 6.0 4.5 6.3 
			 Buckinghamshire 5.6 4.0 4.9 
			 Bury and Rochdale 3.2 1.8 1.6 
			 Calderdale and Kirklees 0.8 0.3 1.2 
			 Cambridgeshire 4.2 n/a n/a 
			 Camden and Islington 4.4 1.3 2.5 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 5.1 0.8 1.6 
			 County Durham and Darlington 0.9 0.0 0.5 
			 Coventry 2.7 0.0 0.2 
			 Croydon 9.6 4.1 3.4 
			 Doncaster 0.3 1.0 0.8 
			 Dorset 0.1 0.0 0.0 
			 Dudley 2.2 0.2 0.3 
			 Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow 5.2 8.1 9.9 
			 East Kent 6.9 0.5 0.3 
			 East Lancashire 1.6 0.4 0.8 
			 East London and City 4.7 4.3 4.9 
			 East Riding and Hull 3.5 0.7 3.7 
			 East Surrey 8.7 2.3 4.1 
			 East Sussex, Bright and Hove 6.4 2.3 3.2 
			 Gateshead and South Tyneside 0.5 0.4 1.5 
			 Gloucestershire 1.6 0.1 0.5 
			 Herefordshire 3.7 1.4 2.7 
			 Hertfordshire 6.1 n/a n/a 
			 Hillingdon 5.8 4.6 5.9 
			 Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire 6.3 n/a n/a 
			 Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster 1.8 1.4 2.6 
			 Kingston and Richmond 6.1 4.1 5.4 
			 Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham 8.5 7.6 11.4 
			 Leeds 3.0 0.5 1.7 
			 Leicestershire 2.6 0.4 2.2 
			 Lincolnshire 4.3 8.3 8.7 
			 Liverpool 4.0 4.2 5.3 
			 Manchester 6.3 4.8 7.2 
			 Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth 5.4 3.1 4.1 
			 Morecambe Bay 2.6 2.0 1.4 
			 Newcastle and North Tyneside 1.1 0.5 2.2 
			 Norfolk 5.3 n/a n/a 
			 North and East Devon 5.5 1.9 3.5 
			 North and Mid Hampshire 4.9 3.2 3.7 
			 North Cheshire 7.9 0.9 2.9 
			 North Cumbria 1.8 0.1 3.5 
			 North Derbyshire 0.7 9.5 11.0 
			 North Essex 6.1 2.5 4.1 
			 North Nottinghamshire 1.0 2.5 2.9 
			 North Staffordshire 2.9 1.5 2.9 
			 North West Lancashire 1.5 1.1 2.0 
			 North Yorkshire 1.2 0.2 1.1 
			 Northamptonshire 4.8 2.2 3.1 
			 Northumberland 0.9 0.2 1.1 
			 Nottingham 2.3 10.0 8.1 
			 Oxfordshire 4.6 5.0 7.3 
			 Redbridge and Waltham Forest 8.3 8.3 9.1 
			 Rotherham 0.4 2.0 2.4 
			 Salford and Trafford 6.4 2.9 5.6 
			 Sandwell 0.8 0.1 0.1 
			 Sefton 3.3 2.7 5.7 
			 Sheffield 1.2 5.2 6.1 
			 Shropshire 3.5 0.2 0.3 
			 Solihull 1.2 0.2 0.3 
			 Somerset 3.4 0.2 0.8 
			 South and West Devon 6.6 0.1 0.7 
			 South Cheshire 4.7 2.0 5.6 
			 South Essex 3.9 0.3 1.1 
			 South Humber 0.8 7.3 9.1 
			 South Lancashire 2.4 1.7 4.4 
			 South Staffordshire 5.2 0.2 0.5 
			 Southampton and South West Hampshire 6.4 6.0 7.7 
			 Southern Derbyshire 2.6 6.1 5.3 
			 St. Helens and Knowsley 3.4 2.0 3.5 
			 Stockport 3.8 3.6 3.6 
			 Suffolk 4.6 3.3 3.7 
			 Sunderland 0.5 0.0 0.4 
			 Tees 0.4 0.0 0.1 
			 Wakefield 2.3 1.6 2.7 
			 Walsall 0.8 0.1 0.2 
			 Warwickshire 1.1 0.1 0.2 
			 West Kent 5.3 1.4 3.1 
			 West Pennine 2.4 1.1 1.7 
			 West Surrey 10.9 5.5 8.9 
			 West Sussex 9.3 4.7 7.8 
			 Wigan and Bolton 3.7 0.6 2.3 
			 Wiltshire 5.9 5.7 5.5 
			 Wirral 2.8 1.8 1.5 
			 Wolverhampton 1.4 0.7 1.8 
			 Worcestershire 5.0 1.8 1.2 
			  
			 England 4.4 2.7 3.9 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health quarterly return (QF01)
	
		Health authorities ranked by percentage waiting over 12 months (highest first)
		
			   Percentage of patients waiting over 12 months in:  
			 Name August 2001 March 1997 June 1997 
		
		
			 West Surrey 10.9 5.5 8.9 
			 Croydon 9.6 4.1 3.4 
			 West Sussex 9.3 4.7 7.8 
			 East Surrey 8.7 2.3 4.1 
			 Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham 8.5 7.6 11.4 
			 Redbridge and Waltham Forest 8.3 8.3 9.1 
			 North Cheshire 7.9 0.9 2.9 
			 Bedfordshire 7.0 1.3 2.6 
			 East Kent 6.9 0.5 0.3 
			 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey 6.9 n/a n/a 
			 South and West Devon 6.6 0.1 0.7 
			 Avon 6.5 3.9 7.1 
			 Southampton and South West Hampshire 6.4 6.0 7.7 
			 East Sussex, Brighton and Hove 6.4 2.3 3.2 
			 Salford and Telford 6.4 2.9 5.6 
			 Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire 6.3 n/a n/a 
			 Manchester 6.3 4.8 7.2 
			 Kingston and Richmond 6.1 4.1 5.4 
			 Hertfordshire 6.1 n/a n/a 
			 Barking and Havering 6.1 3.3 4.0 
			 North Essex 6.1 2.5 4.1 
			 Brent and Harrow 6.0 4.5 6.3 
			 Wiltshire 5.9 5.7 5.5 
			 Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich 5.8 n/a n/a 
			 Hillingdon 5.8 4.6 5.9 
			 Buckinghamshire 5.6 4.0 4.9 
			 North and East Devon 5.5 1.9 3.5 
			 Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth 5.4 3.1 4.1 
			 West Kent 5.3 1.4 3.1 
			 Norfolk 5.3 n/a n/a 
			 South Staffordshire 5.2 0.2 0.5 
			 Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow 5.2 8.1 9.9 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 5.1 0.8 1.6 
			 Worcestershire 5.0 1.8 1.2 
			 North and Mid Hampshire 4.9 3.2 3.7 
			 Northamptonshire 4.8 2.2 3.1 
			 South Cheshire 4.7 2.0 5.6 
			 East London and City 4.7 4.3 4.9 
			 Suffolk 4.6 3.3 3.7 
			 Oxfordshire 4.6 5.0 7.3 
			 Camden and Islington 4.4 1.3 2.5 
			 Lincolnshire 4.3 8.3 8.7 
			 Cambridgeshire 4.2 n/a n/a 
			 Liverpool 4.0 4.2 5.3 
			 South Essex 3.9 0.3 1.1 
			 Stockport 3.8 3.6 3.6 
			 Herefordshire 3.7 1.4 2.7 
			 Wigan and Bolton 3.7 0.6 2.3 
			 Berkshire 3.7 2.6 3.7 
			 East Riding and Hull 3.5 0.7 3.7 
			 Shropshire 3.5 0.2 0.3 
			 Somerset 3.4 0.2 0.8 
			 St. Helens and Knowsley 3.4 2.0 3.5 
			 Sefton 3.3 2.7 5.7 
			 Bury and Rochdale 3.2 1.8 1.6 
			 Leeds 3.0 0.5 1.7 
			 North Staffordshire 2.9 1.5 2.9 
			 Wirral 2.8 1.8 1.5 
			 Coventry 2.7 0.0 0.2 
			 Morecambe Bay 2.6 2.0 1.4 
			 Southern Derbyshire 2.6 6.1 5.3 
			 Leicestershire 2.6 0.4 2.2 
			 South Lancashire 2.4 1.7 4.4 
			 West Pennine 2.4 1.1 1.7 
			 Wakefield 2.3 1.6 2.7 
			 Nottingham 2.3 10.0 8.1 
			 Dudley 2.2 0.2 0.3 
			 Birmingham 2.0 0.1 0.3 
			 North Cumbria 1.8 0.1 3.5 
			 Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster 1.8 1.4 2.6 
			 East Lancashire 1.6 0.4 0.8 
			 Gloucestershire 1.6 0.1 0.5 
			 North West Lancashire 1.5 1.1 2.0 
			 Wolverhampton 1.4 0.7 1.8 
			 North Yorkshire 1.2 0.2 1.1 
			 Solihull 1.2 0.2 0.3 
			 Sheffield 1.2 5.2 6.1 
			 Newcastle and North Tyneside 1.1 0.5 2.2 
			 Warwickshire 1.1 0.1 0.2 
			 North Nottinghamshire 1.0 2.5 2.9 
			 County Durham and Darlington 0.9 0.0 0.5 
			 Northumberland 0.9 0.2 1.1 
			 Calderdale and Kirklees 0.8 0.3 1.2 
			 South Humber 0.8 7.3 9.1 
			 Sandwell 0.8 0.1 0.1 
			 Walsall 0.8 0.1 0.2 
			 Bradford 0.8 0.3 5.0 
			 North Derbyshire 0.7 9.5 11.0 
			 Sunderland 0.5 0.0 0.4 
			 Gateshead and South Tyneside 0.5 0.4 1.5 
			 Tees 0.4 0.0 0.1 
			 Barnsley 0.4 2.3 2.1 
			 Rotherham 0.4 2.0 2.4 
			 Doncaster 0.3 1.0 0.8 
			 Dorset 0.1 0.0 0.0 
			  
			 England 4.4 2.7 3.9 
		
	
	Note:
	Data were collected on a quarterly basis until June 1998. Therefore, data have been given from March 1997; the nearest quarter to April 1997.
	Source:
	Department of Health quarterly return (QF01)

Suicides (Mentally Ill People)

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in reducing the suicide rate among severely mentally ill people since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 29 October 2001
	We take the issue of suicide very seriously. This is why strategies to reduce suicide form a major part of the Government's programme outlined in "Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation, (OHN)" and why the Department funds the "National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness". It is too early to assess progress on the overall "OHN" target to reduce the death rate from suicide and undetermined injury by at least a fifth by the year 2010. This is because the most recent three-year pooled data overlap the start of OHN, which was published in 1999. However, the Department is taking steps to implement recommendations concerning those with a severe mental illness outlined in the most recent report of the national confidential inquiry called "Safety First", published in March 2001.

Maternity Units

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the average cost to the NHS of deliveries in (a) midwife-led maternity units and (b) acute units.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 29 October 2001
	The information is not available in the format requested. The Reference Costs 2001 Collection, due to be published in late November 2001, separately identifies those deliveries that are hospital based from those that are based in the community or at home. This information will not, however, differentiate between who leads the professional group, for example, midwives or obstetricians.
	The table shows the average costs for all hospital based deliveries.
	
		1999–2000
		
			   £ mean average  
			 HRG code/label NELIP ELIP 
		
		
			 N06—Normal delivery with complications/comorbidities 1,176 1,102 
			 N07—Normal delivery without complications/comorbidities 738 785 
			 N08—Assisted delivery with complications/comorbidities 1,420 1,189 
			 N09—Assisted delivery without complications/comorbidities 1,035 1,106 
			 N10—Caesarean section with complications/comorbidities 2,126 2,406 
			 N11—Caesarean section without complications/comorbidities 1,738 1,761

Breast Cancer

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in achieving maximum target wait times of one month from diagnosis to treatment for breast cancer by 2001; and to what stage of treatment this refers.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 29 October 2001
	Full implementation of the maximum target wait of one month from diagnosis to their first definitive treatment for breast cancer will be rolled out by 31 December 2001. National health service trusts have submitted action plans setting out their plans to achieve the 2001 targets and have established shadow monitoring arrangements to monitor their progress. Central monitoring will commence on 1 January 2002.

Private Sector Concordat

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of patients treated under the concordat with the private sector are at state retirement age.

Alan Milburn: holding answer 30 October 2001
	The Department does not collect information on National Health Service funded cases in the private sector in the form requested. In 1999–2000 36 per cent. of finished consultant episodes in NHS trusts in England involved people over the state pension age (65 for men, 60 for women); however it is not necessarily the case that the same proportion will apply to patients treated under the concordat.

Private Sector Concordat

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessments he has made of future activity levels under the concordat with the private sector.

Alan Milburn: holding answer 30 October 2001
	Latest figures show there have been in the region of 60,000 National Health Service funded cases in the private sector since the concordat between the NHS and the independent sector was signed in October last year. Officials are in discussion with private sector providers with a view to developing a national framework agreement to build longer-term relationships between the NHS and the private sector. The aim of this agreement would be to double the number of elective procedures carried out in the private sector on the NHS's behalf. On that basis we believe that next year NHS-funded elective activity in the private sector should exceed 100,000 cases.

Nottingham Health Authority

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the additional resources required to bring the Nottingham health authority up to 100 per cent. of its weighted capitation in (a) cash and (b) percentage terms.

John Hutton: holding answer 30 October 2001
	Nottingham health authority's distance from weighted capitation target for 2001–02 is £7 million in cash terms or 1.55 per cent. below target. For 2001–02, Nottingham health authority received an allocation of £465 million, which is an increase of £39 million in cash terms or 9.15 per cent. The weighted capitation formula is used to set targets that inform allocations, but the formula does not determine allocations.

Community Mental Health Staff

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many additional community mental health staff (a) have been employed and (b) will be employed in the current financial year

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 31 October 2001
	Community mental health staff are employed by the national health service, local authorities and voluntary and independent sector organisations. Data currently collected by the Department identify community psychiatry nurses. However, medical, therapy and social care staff working in mental health services in the community are not identified separately. Between 1997 and 2000 the number of qualified community psychiatry nurses employed in the NHS increased from 9,740 to 11,080.
	It is not possible to say how many community mental health staff will be employed in the current financial year. The work force census is carried out on 30 September each year. Data for 2001 will be published in January 2002.

Mental Health (Prisoners)

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prisoners with serious mental illness (a) have left prison and (b) will leave prison in the current financial year without (i) a care plan and (ii) a care co-ordinator.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 31 October 2001
	At present prisons do not keep records in a form that would readily provide the statistics requested. The NHS Plan, published in July 2000, gave a commitment that by 2004 no prisoner with serious mental illness will leave prison without a care plan and a designated care co-ordinator. Work is under way to develop mental health in-reach services in prisons in order to meet this and other NHS Plan commitments relating to mental health services for prisoners. A start is being made in 12 prisons in England in this financial year and it is expected that in-reach will be in operation in about 70 prisons with the greatest mental health need by 2004. We are working with Her Majesty's Prison Service to ensure that information is collected to enable us to track progress with this initiative.

Mental Health (Prisoners)

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of prisoners with severe mental illness are in receipt of treatment.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 31 October 2001
	It is estimated that at any one time around 5,000 prisoners have severe mental illness and, depending on the capacity of the prison health care team, will receive some support and treatment. The NHS Plan, published in July 2000, gave a commitment that by 2004, 5,000 prisoners at any time will be receiving more comprehensive mental health services in prison. Work is under way to develop mental health in-reach services in prisons in order to meet this and other NHS Plan commitments relating to mental health services for prisoners. A start is being made in 12 prisons in England in this financial year and it is expected that in-reach will be in operation in around 70 or so prisons with the greatest mental health need by 2004.
	In 1999, the latest year for which statistics have been published, 742 prisoners were transferred to hospital as restricted patients for treatment for mental disorder under sections 47 and 48 of the Mental Health Act 1983.

NHS Costs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the change in the NHS deflator measure of cost increases for each of the last 10 years; what the annual increase in the retail price index was for each year; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 31 October 2001
	The table shows the national health service inflation index and the retail price index from 1991–92 to 2000–01.
	
		Percentage 
		
			 Year NHS inflation index Retail prices index 
		
		
			 1991–92 (17)— 4.0 
			 1992–93 5.8 1.9 
			 1993–94 2.7 2.2 
			 1994–95 2.6 3.5 
			 1995–96 3.7 2.7 
			 1996–97 2.9 2.6 
			 1997–98 2.1 3.6 
			 1998–99 3.9 2.0 
			 1999–2000 4.5 2.6 
			 2000–01 (17)— 2.3 
		
	
	(17) Not available
	The table shows that the NHS deflator has risen by approximately 7 per cent. above the retail prices index, over the last decade. This is primarily because NHS pay has increased faster the RPI. This shows that NHS staff are receiving real terms pay increases.

Health Services (Somerset and Dorset)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to establish a new, unified health authority for Somerset and Dorset; what plans he has to site the headquarters of the new health authority in Yeovil; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 31 October 2001
	Public consultation on the boundaries of a proposed new health authority for Somerset and Dorset is under way and will finish on 30 November 2001. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will decide the boundaries for the new health authority in the light of the comments received during the consultation.
	Decisions on the management arrangements, including the location of the headquarters, for the proposed Somerset and Dorset health authority have not been taken yet. It will be the responsibility of the new health authority, when established, to make these decisions.

NHS Funding Mechanisms

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned into alternative funding mechanisms for the national health service; if he will publish this research; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 31 October 2001
	In March 2001 my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that Derek Wanless, former group chief executive of Nat West bank, would be leading a review to provide a long-term assessment of the technological, demographic and medical trends over the next two decades that will affect the health service.
	In the light of these trends, the review will identify the key factors which will determine the financial and other resources required to ensure that the national health service can provide a publicly funded, comprehensive, high quality service available on the basis of clinical need and not ability to pay. The review will report to my right hon. Friend by April 2002.

Surgical Procedures (Cost)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research his Department has undertaken into the relative cost differences between surgical procedures carried out in the public and private sectors; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 31 October 2001
	The Department has recently conducted a survey of health authorities, primary care trusts and acute trusts on the levels of activity being commissioned in the private sector and the accompanying costs. Analysis is not yet complete.

Asylum Seekers

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many asylum-seeking children were supported under (a) section 17 and (b) section 20 of the Children's Act 1989 in the year to June 2001;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in local authority care receiving full board at the latest available date.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 31 October 2001
	The information is not collected centrally in the form requested.
	The Department is currently conducting a children in need census with local authorities which covers the activity in a "typical" week in September or October 2001 selected by the authority. This census, for the first time, includes a question on asylum-seeking children. These data will not be available until some time in 2002.
	The Home Office administers the grant to local authorities for those unaccompanied asylum-seeking children who are supported under the Children Act. Such children receive a needs assessment from their social services department. This should look at children's cases on an individual basis but it is likely that those children under 16 will be assessed as needing to be taken into care under section 20 of the Children Act. Older children may be assessed as needing the less intensive support available under section 17. As at 26 January 2001, local authorities were claiming grant for
	under 16 year-olds: 1,376
	16 and 17 year-olds: 4,702.
	For the financial year 2000–01, local authorities claimed grant for the following number of support weeks:
	under 16 year-olds: 67,491 weeks
	16 and 17 year-olds: 239,598 weeks.
	These figures cannot be simply converted into numbers of young people.

Beta Interferon

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 17 October 2001, Official Report, column 1240W, on beta interferon (No. 7427), what assessment he has made of the cost of beta interferon (a) in the UK and (b) in other countries; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) Appraisal Committee further considered the evidence on the use of beta interferon and glatiramer acetate for multiple sclerosis sufferers on 25 September 2001. NICE has subsequently issued a provisional appraisal determination (PAD) to interested parties for comment.
	The institute has stated that, to allow sufficient time to take proper account of the extensive comments received on the PAD, it issued the final appraisal determination to consultees on 30 October.

Knee Replacement Operations

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the average waiting times in each English hospital trust for knee replacement operations in each of the last three years.

John Hutton: The average median waiting times in each English hospital trust for knee replacement in each of the last three years 1997–98,1998–99 and 1999–2000 have been placed in the Library.
	As part of the NHS Plan, the maximum waiting time for in-patient treatment will be cut from 18 months now to six months by the end of 2005. As a first step towards this reduction, the maximum wait for a national health service operation will be cut to 15 months by the end of March 2002.

Operation Waiting Lists

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been waiting for (a) in-patient and (b) out-patient operations for each reporting period over the last 20 years; what proportion of these people have been waiting for (i) more than two years, (ii) more than 18 months, (iii) more than one year, (iv) more than nine months and (v) more than six months; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 31 October 2001
	The information requested is in the tables.
	As part of the NHS Plan, the national health service is working towards reducing the current maximum in-patient wait of 18 months to 15 months by March 2002, 12 months by March 2003, nine months by March 2004 and finally six months by the end of 2005. The maximum out-patient waiting time will fall from over six months today to six months by March 2002 and three months by 2005. No specific targets have been set within the NHS Plan for further reducing waiting lists but modelling suggests that as waiting times fall so waiting lists will shorten.
	In January 2001, the British Association of Otorhinolaryngologists released guidance on the use of single-use instruments for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy operations due to the theoretical risk of contracting vCJD. This had an effect on in-patient waiting lists due to the number of patients waiting for these types of operations.
	
		
			   Of those on in-patient waiting list, percentage who have waited:  
			 Quarter Size of in-patient waiting list More than 6 months More than 9 months More than 12 months More than 18 months More than 24 months 
		
		
			 March 1981 628,333 n/a n/a 28.8 n/a n/a 
			 June 1981 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 September 1981 619,393 n/a n/a 29.2 n/a n/a 
			 December 1981 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 March 1982 622,480 n/a n/a 28.2 n/a n/a 
			 June 1982 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 September 1982 725,865 n/a n/a 26.6 n/a n/a 
			 December 1982 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 March 1983 726,186 n/a n/a 27.3 n/a n/a 
			 June 1983 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 September 1983 703,755 n/a n/a 29.3 n/a n/a 
			 December 1983 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 March 1984 692,945 n/a n/a 28.1 n/a n/a 
			 June 1984 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 September 1984 682,599 n/a n/a 27.8 n/a n/a 
			 December 1984 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 March 1985 674,453 n/a n/a 25.4 n/a n/a 
			 June 1985 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 September 1985 661,249 n/a n/a 24.2 n/a n/a 
			 December 1985 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 March 1986 673,107 n/a n/a 24.0 n/a n/a 
			 June 1986 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 September 1986 681,901 n/a n/a 24.2 n/a n/a 
			 December 1986 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 March 1987 687,945 n/a n/a 23.6 n/a n/a 
			 June 1987 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 September 1987 848,022 45.0 32.8 24.7 n/a 10.7 
			 December 1987 873,130 44.1 32.2 24.1 n/a 10.5 
			 March 1988 876,246 43.5 32.4 23.7 n/a 10.0 
			 June 1988 878,306 44.1 33.2 24.2 n/a 10.1 
			 September 1988 900,051 44.7 33.5 24.4 n/a 10.2 
			 December 1988 931,495 44.3 32.0 24.0 n/a 9.9 
			 March 1989 922,676 44.3 31.7 24.2 n/a 10.0 
			 June 1989 922,877 43.5 31.7 23.6 n/a 9.6 
			 September 1989 929,056 43.4 31.8 23.5 n/a 9.5 
			 December 1989 971,845 42.5 29.4 22.5 n/a 8.9 
			 March 1990 958,976 41.8 29.7 21.7 n/a 8.4 
			 June 1990 955,786 41.7 29.3 21.6 n/a 7.9 
			 September 1990 957,533 41.7 28.0 21.2 n/a 7.4 
			 December 1990 965,520 39.9 25.8 19.5 n/a 6.4 
			 March 1991 948,243 39.0 26.8 17.9 n/a 5.4 
			 June 1991 964,050 39.0 24.6 17.8 n/a 5.3 
			 September 1991 947,842 37.5 21.7 16.7 n/a 4.6 
			 December 1991 950,098 34.1 16.1 13.7 n/a 3.2 
			 March 1992 917,717 29.5 26. 8.8 n/a 0.2 
			 June 1992 937,054 29.9 17.0 9.1 2.2 0.1 
			 September 1992 939,740 30.5 16.6 8.6 1.8 0.1 
			 December 1992 977,189 28.9 15.8 7.5 1.3 0.1 
			 March 1993 994,974 27.4 13.6 5.7 0.5 0.0 
			 June 1993 1,019,341 29.1 14.9 6.5 0.5 0.0 
			 September 1993 1,032,038 30.5 15.5 6.9 0.6 0.0 
			 December 1993 1,065,782 30.0 16.3 7.0 0.6 0.0 
			 March 1994 1,065,369 28.5 14.5 6.1 0.4 0.0 
			 June 1994 1,077,497 28.3 14.5 6.1 0.4 0.0 
			 September 1994 1,071,101 28.5 13.9 5.8 0.4 0.0 
			 December 1994 1,070,492 26.7 13.1 5.1 0.3 0.0 
			 March 1995 1,044,051 23.1 9.9 3.1 0.0 0.0 
			 June 1995 1,052,958 23.2 9.9 3.1 0.0 0.0 
			 September 1995 1,040,152 23.5 9.1 2.7 0.0 0.0 
			 December 1995 1,054,948 21.8 8.6 1.9 0.0 0.0 
			 March 1996 1,048,029 19.9 6.8 0.4 0.0 0.0 
			 June 1996 1,056,122 21.2 7.7 1.0 0.0 0.0 
			 September 1996 1,061,557 22.6 8.4 1.4 0.0 0.0 
			 December 1996 1,104,983 23.1 9.6 2.0 0.0 0.0 
			 March 1997 1,158,004 25.0 10.5 2.7 0.0 0.0 
			 June 1997 1,189,962 26.7 12.2 3.9 0.0 0.0 
			 September 1997 1,207,515 28.0 13.4 4.8 0.1 0.0 
			 December 1997 1,261,915 29.1 14.3 5.4 0.1 0.0 
			 March 1998 1,297,662 29.5 14.5 5.2 0.0 0.0 
			 June 1998 1,287,543 29.7 14.8 5.6 0.0 0.0 
			 September 1998 1,213,839 28.6 13.8 5.2 0.0 0.0 
			 December 1998 1,173,598 26.9 13.3 4.8 0.0 0.0 
			 March 1999 1,072,860 26.1 12.4 4.4 0.0 0.0 
			 June 1999 1,094,251 25.5 12.3 4.5 0.0 0.0 
			 September 1999 1,084,157 25.9 12.3 4.7 0.0 0.0 
			 December 1999 1,108,006 25.8 12.6 4.7 0.0 0.0 
			 March 2000 1,037,066 25.9 12.4 4.7 0.0 0.0 
			 June 2000 1,047,890 26.1 12.7 4.9 0.0 0.0 
			 September 2000 1,031,824 26.7 12.6 5.0 0.0 0.0 
			 December 2000 1,034,381 25.8 12.8 4.8 0.0 0.0 
			 March 2001 1,006,727 24.4 11.4 4.2 0.0 0.0 
			 June 2001 1,037,875 25.7 12.1 4.5 0.0 0.0 
		
	
	Note:
	Before September 1987 figures relate to ordinary (overnight) admissions. Number of people waiting for day cases were not collected before this date.
	Source:
	KH07 quarterly return
	
		
			   Of those on out-patient waiting list, number who have waited:  
			 Quarter Size of out-patient waiting list 3 to 6 months more than 6 months more than 9 months more than 12 months more than 18 months more than 24 months 
		
		
			 June 1955 n/a 214,165 87,436 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 September 1995 n/a 218,339 72,688 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 December 1995 n/a 185,887 60,906 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 March 1996 n/a 157,633 58,501 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 June 1996 n/a 168,792 52,385 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 September 1996 n/a 201,586 61,952 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 December 1996 n/a 188,644 68,512 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 March 1997 n/a 176,799 70,689 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 June 1997 n/a 210,075 84,997 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 September 1997 n/a 253,051 90,123 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 December 1997 n/a 249,039 106,961 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 March 1998 n/a 221,732 112,250 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 June 1998 n/a 269,013 108,684 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 September 1998 n/a 310,863 126,312 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 December 1998 n/a 323,218 144,404 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 March 1999 n/a 303,246 152,787 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 June 1999 n/a 338,752 145,896 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 September 1999 n/a 362,794 149,247 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 December 1999 n/a 336,457 159,211 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 March 2000 n/a 269,385 132,223 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 June 2000 n/a 314,157 130,335 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 September 2000 n/a 309,928 125,840 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 December 2000 n/a 285,519 113,618 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 March 2001 n/a 201,981 81,847 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 June 2001 n/a 274,421 85,099 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	Notes:
	Out-patient data not available prior to June 1995.
	Data on the total number of patients on out-patient waiting list is not collected.
	Data on the number of out-patients waiting over nine, over 12, over 18 and over 24 months
	is not collected.
	Source:
	QM08 quarterly return

WORK AND PENSIONS

Interview (Travelling Expenses)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on his Department's policy towards recompensing interviewees for their travelling expenses.

Nick Brown: We recognise that it can be difficult for unemployed people to meet the cost of getting to interviews and for this reason we have been running the travel to interview scheme since June 1986. The travel to interview scheme is available to jobseekers from their first day of unemployment.
	The scheme encourages people to widen their job search by helping with travelling costs to attend interviews outside their usual travel to work area. To qualify for the scheme the job applied for must be permanent and full time. People can make applications for assistance in advance and will either receive a travel warrant or be reimbursed after the interview has taken place.

Social Security Expenditure (Scotland)

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much money was paid in benefits, pensions and other associated services in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK during the (i) 2001–02 financial year to date and (ii) the previous five financial years; and what the breakdown is by benefits for each of those years.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 19 October 2001
	The Northern Ireland Assembly is responsible for social security within Northern Ireland. Information on benefit expenditure by country is not available for 2000–01. Expenditure for Great Britain is published on the DWP website at http://www.dss.gov.uk/asd/online.html. The relevant information is contained in Other Statistics, Benefit Expenditure Tables 2001, Table1. Estimated expenditure amounts for Scotland are given in the table.
	
		Benefit Expenditure—Scotland
		
			  £ million  
			 Terms  1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 
		
		
			 Retirement Pension—basic 2,408 2,557 2,663 2,798 2,966 
			 Retirement Pension—earnings-related 193 241 277 321 391 
			 Christmas Bonus—contribution-based 11 11 11 11 11 
			 Widows'/Bereavement benefits 118 114 113 112 112 
			 Unemployment Benefit 125 72 — — — 
			 Jobseeker's Allowance—contribution-based — 43 62 59 56 
			 Jobseeker's Allowance—income-based — 158 321 303 281 
			 Sickness Benefit 2 — — — — 
			 Statutory Sick Pay 5 13 3 4 4 
			 Invalidity Benefit—basic 29 — — — — 
			 Invalidity Benefit—earnings-related 7 — — — — 
			 Incapacity Benefit—short-term 71 81 84 77 69 
			 Incapacity Benefit—long-term 759 767 755 750 691 
			 Incapacity Benefit—earnings-related 183 167 140 120 95 
			 Industrial disablement benefits 62 64 65 67 66 
			 Industrial Death Benefit 5 5 5 5 5 
			 Other industrial injuries benefits (18)— (18)— (18)— (18)— (18)— 
			 Maternity Allowance 3 3 3 3 3 
			 Statutory Maternity Pay 45 29 42 46 48 
			 Guardian's and Child's Special Allowance (18)— (18)— (18)— (18)— (18)— 
			 Non-contributory Retirement Pension 3 2 2 2 3 
			 Non-contributory Christmas Bonus 1 1 1 1 1 
			 War pensions 111 120 114 112 111 
			 Attendance Allowance 212 235 256 274 290 
			 Invalid Care Allowance 66 80 82 86 91 
			 Severe Disablement Allowance 99 108 119 117 116 
			 Disability Living Allowance 440 521 570 610 644 
			 Disability Working Allowance 2 3 4 4 4 
			 Income Support (under 60 years of age) 1,195 1,012 798 802 817 
			 IS for the elderly—Minimum Income Guarantee 348 344 345 335 353 
			 Child Benefit 572 589 601 611 695 
			 Family Credit 184 210 225 237 185 
			 Earnings Top-Up — (18)— 2 3 3 
			 Independent Living Funds 12 13 12 13 14 
			 Mobility Equipment Fund (18)— (18)— (18)— (18)— 1 
			 Social Fund 24 22 18 19 18 
			 Winter Fuel Payments — — 19 19 90 
			 Other small benefits (18)— (18)— (18)— (18)— (18)— 
			 Consolidated Fund Extra Receipts -1 (18)— (18)— (18)— — 
			 Housing Benefit Rent Allowance 276 302 322 335 352 
			 Housing Benefit Rent Rebate 630 665 692 701 700 
			 Council Tax Benefit 213 246 287 303 306 
			 Total benefit expenditure 8,413 8,798 9,014 9,262 9,588 
		
	
	(18) Less than one million
	Notes
	1. Figures are consistent with the Departmental Report 2001.
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest million.
	3. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	4. These figures include all LA spending on Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit in addition to the money funded directly by Central Government.
	5. The Scotland expenditure figures have been calculated from the average weekly amounts and caseload figures that have been derived from sample administrative data.
	6. Figures for 1999–2000 are on a Resource Accounting and Budgeting basis.

Departmental Properties

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the total running costs for buildings used, owned or rented by his Department for each nation and region of the UK, and estimate the average cost per square metre for properties used by his Department as a whole, and by region and nation of the UK.

Nick Brown: The vast majority of buildings on the former DSS part of the estate are rented to the Department by our private sector partner, Land Securities Trillium. Under the PRIME PFI agreement, the Department pays Land Securities Trillium a unitary charge (the "Facilities Price") for each building and receives serviced office accommodation in return. The Facilities Price covers not only the space we occupy but also a large number of building related services. These are:
	building management and maintenance (including Customer Service Centre) internal and external cleaning security (including facilities and equipment)
	catering (including facilities and equipment)
	provision and maintenance of furniture and equipment
	energy and utilities management
	landscape maintenance
	porterage
	waste management.
	The first table shows the information requested in respect of the Facilities Price, utility charges and business rates for all PRIME buildings where the former DSS are the major occupier. The information is broken down geographically according to nation and former DSS regional boundaries. Details of the corresponding charges paid for the former DSS minor occupancies and non-PRIME buildings are not currently held centrally. These charges are paid for and monitored locally.
	The second table gives details of the running costs of buildings on the former Employment Service part of the estate. This includes both major and minor occupancies but excludes sub-lets. Information is again provided geographically both on a national and regional basis but is dictated this time by former ES regional boundaries. Running costs on the former ES part of the Estate include all maintenance work (i.e. scheduled, reactive and planned) and minor new works, rents, rates and service charges, cleaning and utilities. These costs are lower than the charges paid by the former DSS as the ES part of the estate was not subject to a PFI agreement and does not therefore benefit from the full range of services provided as under the PRIME agreement. Nor has the risk inherent in the buildings and its associated cost been transferred to a PFI provider.
	Details of services, such as post opening and despatch, reprographics and switchboard etc., which are traditionally regarded as business rather than building- related services, (and the cost of furniture and security for the former ES) have been excluded from both tables as we are unable to present the information in the same format.
	
		Former DSS part of the estate
		
			 Region Total (£) Total business square metre (BSM) Average charge £ per BSM 
		
		
			 AD1 East London and Anglia 15,330,376.48 68,774.93 222.91 
			 AD2 Chilterns 20,280,484.46 82,990.12 244.37 
			 AD3 London South 40,736,959.46 157,615.80 258.46 
			 AD4 West Country 15,998,514.95 97,521.38 164.05 
			 AD5 Mercia 13,298,357.23 67,939.49 195.74 
			 AD6 West Midlands 20,321,903.99 96,948.44 209.62 
			 AD8 North West Coast 40,967,353.38 227,128.26 180.37 
			 AD9 Greater Manchester 16,979,155.53 102,333.26 165.92 
			 AD10 Yorkshire 22,340,174.39 106,328.42 210.11 
			 AD11 Tyne Tees 10,942,784.64 57,915.70 188.94 
			  
			 England total 217,196,064.51 1,065,495.79 203.85 
			 
			 AD7 Wales 12,999,568.66 71,045.14 182.98 
			  
			 Wales total 12,999,568.66 71,045.14 182.98 
			 
			 AD12 West of Scotland 17,507,560.03 70,120.37 249.68 
			 AD13 East of Scotland 18,785,521.46 82,764.49 226.98 
			  
			 Scotland total 36,293,081.49 152,884.87 237.39 
			  
			 Grand total 266,488,714.66 1,289,425.79 206.67 
		
	
	All charges are exact for the last financial year. The total business square metres is based on the properties that were occupied as at March 2001.
	
		Former ES part of the estate
		
			  Region  Total running costs (£) Total business square metre (BSM)  Average charge £ per BSM 
		
		
			 Head Office (Sheffield) 6,334,095 2,9055.10 218.00 
			 Northern 7,772,273 56,815.62 136.80 
			 North West 15,194,904 114,036.09 133.25 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 9,944,152 74,326.63 133.79 
			 East Midlands 9,582,156 70,122.84 136.65 
			 West Midlands 14,027,018 90,138.49 155.62 
			 London and South East 55,911,412 263,813.39 211.94 
			 South West 12,431,947 78,718.82 157.93 
			 England total 131,197,957 777,026.98 168.85 
			 
			 Wales 7,046,413 60,990.66 115.53 
			 Wales total 7,046,413 60,990.66 115.53 
			 
			 Scotland 16,694,086 98,797.07 168.97 
			 Scotland total 16,694,086 98,797.07 168.97 
			 Grand total 154,938,456 936,815 165.39 
		
	
	All charges are exact for the last financial year. The total business square metres is based on the properties that were occupied as at March 2001.

Departmental Staff

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will estimate the number of staff employed by his Department by region and nation of the UK; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of each civil service grade in his Department is located in each region and nation of the UK; what the average salary is for each grade; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: The details are set out in the tables.
	
		Table 1: Number of staff by grade level and nation/region
		
			Whole-time equivalent  
			 Government office region All grades SCS level Level 6/7 SEO/HEO level EO level AO/AA level Industrial/ Other grade 
		
		
			 London 14,678 89 339 1,239 4,891 8,094 27 
			 South East 10,841 (19)— 39 483 3,591 6,601 126 
			 South West 8,098 (19)— 31 412 2,476 5,125 51 
			 West Midlands 10,956 5 45 542 3,383 6,980 (19)— 
			 North West 17,990 15 204 1,276 5,098 11,058 340 
			 North East 13,693 17 122 937 3,384 9,163 70 
			 Merseyside 5,722 (19)— 26 236 1,677 3,780 (19)— 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 12,739 37 278 1,637 4,367 6,415 4 
			 East Midlands 5,818 (19)— 27 263 1,870 3,652 5 
			 Eastern 5,286 (19)— 16 185 1,519 3,565 (19)— 
			  
			 England total 105,821 167 1,127 7,210 32,256 64,433 627 
			 
			 Wales 6,490 (19)— 26 303 2,065 3,999 94 
			 
			 Scotland 13,822 (19)— 64 652 4,259 8,642 201 
			  
			 Great Britain total 126,133 173 1,217 8,165 38,580 77,074 922 
			 Northern Ireland 8 (20)— (20)— (20)— (20)— (20)— 8 
			  
			 Grand total 126,141 173 1,217 8,165 38,580 77,074 930 
		
	
	(19) Because there are three or fewer staff in this category the numbers have not been separately identified
	(20) Staff numbers for Northern Ireland have not been identified by grade because the small numbers in each category could potentially identify individuals and their salaries
	Notes:
	1. The staff data from which these figures derive are as at 31 August 2001 as this represents the correct staffing position of DWP, which was formed in June 2001. Earlier DSS data are not comparable.
	2. Employment service staff are included.
	3. War Pensions Agency Staff are included as they remain within the overall DWP administrative structure pro-tem even though WPA is now technically part of the Ministry of Defence.
	4. Casual and other staff on temporary contracts are included.
	5. The grade groupings include specialist staff such as accountants, lawyers and auditors in their "generalist" grade equivalent.
	6. Because the staffing make-up of DWP is different from the DSS, the figures above are not comparable with those provided for DSS in Civil Service Statistics 2000.
	
		Table 2: Percentage of staffing numbers
		
			 Government office region  All grades SCS level Level 6/7 SEO/HEO level EO level AO/AA level Industrial/ other grades 
		
		
			 London 12 51 28 15 13 11 3 
			 South East 9 (21)— 3 6 9 9 14 
			 South West 6 (21)— 3 5 6 7 5 
			 West Midlands 9 3 4 7 9 9 (21)— 
			 North West 14 9 17 16 13 14 37 
			 North East 11 10 10 11 9 12 8 
			 Merseyside 5 (21)— 2 3 4 5 (21)— 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 10 21 23 20 11 8 0 
			 East Midlands 5 (21)— 2 3 5 5 1 
			 Eastern 4 (21)— 1 2 4 5 (21)— 
			  
			 England total 84 97 93 88 84 84 67 
			 
			 Wales 5 (21)— 2 4 5 5 10 
			 
			 Scotland 11 (21)— 5 8 11 11 22 
			  
			 Great Britain total 100 100 100 100 100 100 99 
			 Northern Ireland (22)— (22)— (22)— (22)— (22)— (22)— 1 
			  
			 Grand total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 
		
	
	(21) Because there are three or fewer staff in this category the numbers have not been separately identified
	(22) Staff numbers for Northern Ireland have not been identified by grade because the small numbers in each category could potentially identify individuals and their salaries
	Notes:
	1. The staff data from which these figures derive are as at 31 August 2001 as this represents the correct staffing position of DWP, which was formed in June 2001. Earlier DSS data are not comparable.
	2. Employment service staff are included.
	3. War Pensions Agency Staff are included as they remain within the overall DWP administrative structure pro-tem even though WPA is now technically part of the Ministry of Defence.
	4. Casual and other staff on temporary contracts are included.
	5. The grade groupings include specialist staff such as accountants, lawyers and auditors in their "generalist" grade equivalent.
	6. Because the staffing make-up of DWP is different from the DSS, the figures above are not comparable with those provided for DSS in Civil Service Statistics 2000.
	
		Table 3: Average staff salary by grade level and nation/region
		
			£  
			 Government office region All grades SCS level Level 6/7 SEO/HEO level EO level AO/AA level Industrial/ other grades 
		
		
			 London 19,129 67,853 44,551 27,470 20,864 15,218 14,023 
			 South East 15,855 (23)— 37,432 24,639 19,311 13,295 11,248 
			 South West 15,456 (23)— 38,344 24,319 18,703 13,053 12,272 
			 West Midlands 15,577 57,022 39,766 24,451 19,037 13,026 (23)— 
			 North West 15,709 63,875 45,557 25,368 18,611 12,760 11,777 
			 North East 15,283 63,371 41,354 24,769 18,408 12,749 11,923 
			 Merseyside 15,191 (23)— 40,163 24,412 18,644 12,914 (23)— 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 17,339 63,778 39,350 25,012 18,932 13,081 11,113 
			 East Midlands 15,777 (23)— 38,524 24,275 19,168 13,253 11,934 
			 Eastern 15,672 (23)— 39,368 24,635 19,580 13,423 (23)— 
			  
			 England total 16,280 65,641 42,177 25,303 19,184 13,280 11,814 
			 
			 Wales 15,564 (23)— 38,605 24,381 18,604 13,261 11,291 
			 
			 Scotland 15,395 (23)— 39,509 24,477 18,740 12,951 11,440 
			  
			 Great Britain total 16,146 65,526 41,960 25,200 19,104 13,242 11,666 
			 Northern Ireland 16,389 (24)— (24)— (24)— (24)— (24)— (24)— 
			  
			 Grand total 16,146 65,526 41,960 25,200 19,105 13,243 11,685 
		
	
	(23) Because there are three or fewer staff in this category the average salary has not been separately identified.
	(24) Average salaries for Northern Ireland have not been identified by grade because the small numbers in each category could potentially identify individuals and their salaries.
	Notes:
	1. Average salaries include basic salary and job-based allowances, but not payments relating to working outside normal hours eg overtime, nor employer's National Insurance and Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme contributions.
	2. The figures indicate averages and not the mean; calculation of the mean would have presented significant additional data processing attracting disproportionate costs.
	3. The staff data from which these figures derive are as at 31 August 2001, as this represents the correct staffing position of DWP which was formed in June 2001. Earlier DSS data are not comparable.
	4. Employment Service staff are included.
	5. War Pensions Agency Staff are included as they remain within the overall DWP administrative structure pro-tem even though WPA is now technically part of the Ministry of Defence.
	6. Casual and other staff on temporary contracts are included.

Departmental Spending

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total amount of spending by his Department was in each nation and region of the UK, in the last year for which figures are available; what proportion of his Department's total spending this constitutes; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: The information is in the tables:
	
		Benefit expenditure for 1999–2000 by country
		
			  Benefit expenditure (£ million) Proportion of GB total (Percentage) 
		
		
			 Great Britain 98,241 — 
			 England 83,081 85 
			 Scotland 8,689 9 
			 Wales 6,470 7 
		
	
	
		Benefit expenditure for 1999–2000 by English Government office region
		
			  Benefit expenditure (£ million) Proportion of GB total (Percentage) 
		
		
			 North East 5,145 5 
			 North West 12,973 13 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 8,809 9 
			 East Midlands 6,805 7 
			 West Midlands 9,165 9 
		
	
	
		Benefit expenditure for 1999–2000 by Government office region
		
			  Benefit expenditure (£ million) Proportion of GB total (Percentage) 
		
		
			 South West 8,445 9 
			 Eastern 8,314 8 
			 London 11,509 12 
			 South East 11,916 12 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are consistent with Departmental Report 2001, but do not include some overseas expenditure and War Pensions Northern Ireland.
	2. Figures may not sum due to rounding.

New Deal

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of those leaving the New Deal for Lone Parents left to enter (a) jobs lasting less than 13 weeks, (b) sustained jobs and (c) jobs lasting more than 26 weeks.

Nick Brown: The New Deal for Lone Parents has already helped over 100,000 Lone Parents move into work. More detailed analysis of the length of time people leaving the programme for work remain in their jobs will be included in the evaluation of the New Deal for Lone Parents National programme, which is due to be published in spring 2003.

New Deal

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many persons (a) were eligible and (b) entered the New Deal for the Long-Term Unemployed under the early entry provisions in each year since its inception.

Nick Brown: The monthly New Deal Statistical First Releases, which are placed in the Library, give information on the numbers joining the New Deal under the early eligibility criteria. Early entry to the programme is voluntary and no estimates are available of the total number of people who would have been eligible to join the programme early.

New Deal

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of those entering (a) the environmental task force option and (b) the voluntary sector option in the New Deal for young people obtained a qualification through day release education or training in each year since 1998.

Nick Brown: The monthly New Deal Statistical First Releases, which are placed in the Library, give information on the numbers of young people starting each of the New Deal options. Information on qualifications gained is not available.

New Deal

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discretionary payments can be made from the Advisers Discretionary Fund; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: New Deal Personal Advisers can make an award from the Advisers Discretionary Fund, up to a maximum of £300 for any goods and services needed to support a jobseeker with jobsearch, or to help them overcome barriers which prevent them applying for or taking up a job.

New Deal

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of (a) personal advisers and (b) senior advisers in the new deal for young people are members of an ethnic minority, broken down by ethnic minority; and if he will give the same breakdown for the members of the new deal for young people.

Nick Brown: The Employment Service collected data on the ethnic breakdown of Personal Advisers across all the New Deals at the end of February 2001 as part of a one off exercise.
	The results of that exercise are in the table.
	
		Percentage 
		
			 Ethnic group Proportion of Personal Advisers at end of February 2001 
		
		
			 White 78 
			 People from ethnic minority groups(25) 7 
			 No data held 15 
		
	
	(25) No data held on specific ethnic minority groups
	Source:
	Employment Service Head Office Personnel Division
	The ethnic breakdown of clients on the New Deal for Young People programme are in the table.
	
		Percentage 
		
			  Ethnic group(26) Proportion of new deal for young people clients at the end of July 2001(27) 
		
		
			 White 79.6 
			 Black-Caribbean 3.2 
			 Pakistani 3.0 
			 Black-African 2.1 
			 Black-Other 1.6 
			 Indian 1.4 
			 Bangladeshi 1.0 
			 Chinese 0.2 
			 Other 3.0 
			 Prefer not to say 4.9 
		
	
	(26) Providing ethnicity information is voluntary, we cannot compel individuals to specify their ethnic origin.
	(27) The proportions shown are of those New Deal clients who completed an Employment Service form which requests information about ethnic origin. 95 per cent. of clients completed the form.
	Source:
	New Deal Evaluation Database

New Deal

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many personal advisers in the new deal for young people have left in each year since its inception; how many of these have left as a result of promotion in the Employment Service; and what estimate he has made of the average length of service of such personal advisers.

Nick Brown: The information is not available.

New Deal

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average cost per place on each of the four options in the new deal for young people in the last 12 months was.

Nick Brown: The information is in the table.
	
		£ 
		
			  Option Unit costs for the year ending August 2001 
		
		
			 Subsidised employment 1,638 
			 Full time education and training 1,358 
			 Voluntary sector 2,360 
			 Environmental Task Force 2,478 
		
	
	Source:
	Employment Service Management Information on New Deal for Young People

Winter Fuel Payment

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of women who in 2001 will reach the age of 60 years after the qualifying week for Winter Fuel Payment eligibility but before 25 December; how the qualification for automatic Winter Fuel Payments is triggered; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: It is estimated that 70,000 women will attain the age of 60 between the qualifying week (17 to 23 September) and 25 December 2001.
	Automatic entitlement to a Winter Fuel Payment is determined by identifying those people who meet the qualifying criteria, including age and household composition, from official records.

Civil Servants (Retirement Age)

John Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if his Department can invite staff to remain in post beyond the normal retirement age; and what is the final age at which such staff must retire.

Nick Brown: In the Department, the final age at which all staff in grades below the Senior Civil Service must retire is 65. Staff have the flexibility of choosing to retire at any time from the minimum retirement of 60 up to the age of 65.
	The retirement age for Senior Civil Servants is 60.

Stakeholder Pensions

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb), on 26 October 2001, Official Report, column 438W, on stakeholder pensions, what income range in pounds sterling per annum is the target group for stakeholder pensions.

Ian McCartney: The Green Paper "Partnership in Pensions" identified moderate earners as people earning between £9,000 and £20,000. The Green Paper went on to explain that people earning above £20,000 were in most cases already making additional pension provision. However, it did make clear that higher earners without access to a good quality pension scheme would still be able to take advantage of the new stakeholder regime.

Benefit Fraud

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people who are working and claiming benefits fraudulently.

Malcolm Wicks: Estimates have not been made for the total number of people who are working and claiming benefits fraudulently.

Pension Schemes

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on investigation into the Warwick Group Pension Scheme, the Debenholt Pension and Life Assurance Scheme and the Warwick Sport and Leisure Ltd. Retirement Benefits Scheme, including actions by (a) the Pensions Ombudsman and (b) the independent trustees (i) in respect of these schemes and (ii) in respect of the former trustees Norman and Simon Gidney.

Ian McCartney: The Pensions Ombudsman has received complaints in relation to the Warwick Group Pension Scheme and the Debenholt Pension and Life Assurance Scheme. He has issued his determination in respect of a number of the complaints made, others remain to be considered. The Pensions Ombudsman is an independent statutory commissioner and we cannot comment on his determinations or on actions taken during his investigation of complaints. Copies of his determinations are available on the Pensions Ombudsman's website.
	The Independent Trustee is still taking action to wind up the Warwick Group Pension Scheme and the Debenholt Pension and Life Assurance scheme which are associated schemes. The Warwick Sport and Leisure Ltd. Retirement Benefits Scheme has been wound up.
	The Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority has investigated breaches of the Pensions Act 1995 in relation to all three schemes. As a result of its investigation Mr. N. Gidney and Mr. S. Gidney were both disqualified from acting as a trustee of any occupational pension scheme and fined in respect of 13 breaches of the Pensions Act 1995.

Pensions (Employees)

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many full-time employees (a) were in occupational pension schemes and (b) subscribed to personal pensions in each of the last five years.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 30 October 2001
	The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.
	The table shows estimates of the numbers of full-time employees contributing to occupational and personal pensions in each of the years 1996–97 through to 1999–2000. Because of a change in methodology on the Family Resources Survey—1999–2000 data are not comparable to earlier years.
	
		Million 
		
			 Year  Total full-time employees with an occupational pension Total full-time employees with a personal pension 
		
		
			 1996–97 9.4 3.3 
			 1997–98 9.3 3.2 
			 1998–99 9.6 3.4 
			 1999–2000 9.3 2.6 
		
	
	Note:
	Totals rounded to nearest 100,000
	Source:
	Family Resources Survey percentages applied to Labour Force Survey totals

HOME DEPARTMENT

Hawalla Banking System

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the potential misuse by terrorists of the Hawalla banking system; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: holding answer 15 October 2001
	The informal nature of this banking system makes it difficult for law enforcement agencies to monitor financial transactions that may or may not be connected to criminal activities. However, the police will continue to give a high priority to the investigation of financial transactions instigated by criminals using banking systems, whatever their nature, around the world. In particular, the economic crime unit of the National Criminal Intelligence Service is conducting a strategic assessment of Alternative Remittance Systems, such as Hawalla banking, including the possible use of these systems by terrorists and other criminals, which will inform us of what measures need to be taken.

Terrorist Threat

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of measures taken to counter the terrorist threat to Government buildings in Westminster and Parliament.

David Blunkett: Protective security arrangements are the responsibility of the Secretary of State in each respective Department. Security measures in all Government Departments are kept under regular review to ensure that they provide adequate protection against the range of threats faced by Government Departments and buildings, including that from terrorism.
	In the Palace of Westminster, Black Rod and the Sergeant at Arms have recently met and on behalf of both Houses are actively considering a number of issues with a view to improving security at the Palace and its ancillary buildings.
	More generally, under the Civil Contingencies Committee which I chair, a sub-committee chaired by the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, is reviewing the contingency arrangements for the key infrastructure of the United Kingdom. This includes the key structures associated with the parliamentary process.
	In light of the current situation these measures will remain under close scrutiny.

Security Industry

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further measures he plans to take to regulate the security industry.

John Denham: The Private Security Industry Act 2001 sets out the Government's current plans for the regulation of the private security industry in England and Wales.
	The Act establishes the Security Industry Authority, which will have responsibility for licensing security operatives and approving companies in designated sectors of the industry.
	The Government wish to see the authority up and running as soon as possible. It will be open to the authority to make recommendations to amend the regulatory framework if it considers this desirable.

Overseas PhD Students

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many overseas PhD students in science disciplines are in the UK on work permits.

Angela Eagle: The number of PhD students in science disciplines in the United Kingdom on work permits is not available through our information technology systems and would be available only at disproportionate cost.

Child Curfew Orders

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many child curfew orders have been issued in the Greater London area in the last 12 months under the provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

John Denham: No applications have been received to impose child curfew schemes under section 14 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Sections 48 and 49 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, which took effect on 1 August 2001, have recently extended the upper age limit to 15 and allowed the police, as well as local authorities, to initiate schemes.

Metropolitan Police

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to improve the pay and conditions of Metropolitan police civilian security staff at the Houses of Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: The pay and conditions of service of civilian security staff at the Houses of Parliament are matters for the Metropolitan Police Authority.
	The Metropolitan Police Service is undertaking a review of pay and grading for all its civil staff, including the security staff at the Palace of Westminster.
	The recommendations are due to be considered by the Metropolitan Police Authority's Human Resources Committee on 1 November.

Rehabilitation

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 23 October 2001, Official Report, column 213W, whether targets for rehabilitation are published for each prison; if he will list those for Nottingham prison; and if he will make a statement on progress made (a) at Nottingham prison and (b) in the UK.

Beverley Hughes: Targets for individual establishments are not routinely published. The targets for Nottingham prison for measures that relate to rehabilitation for the financial year 2001–02 are listed in the table. The targets for Her Majesty's Prison Service England and Wales were listed in my answer of 23 October 2001, Official Report, column 213W.
	
		
			 Nottingham Prison Target 2001–02 
		
		
			 Purposeful activity hours 19.5 
			 Offending behaviour programmes 24 
			 Sex offender treatment programmes — 
			 Random mandatory drug testing 16.9 
			 Drug rehabilitation/therapeutic communities 60 
			 Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare Services (CARATS) 384 
			 Detoxification 350 
			 Basic skills awards—literacy 15 
			 Basic skills awards—numeracy 15 
			 Key work skills 5 
		
	
	Sex offender treatment programmes are not run at Nottingham prison. Performance for the last three financial years for Nottingham prison and HM Prison Service England and Wales is detailed in the tables. The Scottish Executive and the Northern Ireland Office should be approached for information relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland, respectively.
	
		
			 Nottingham Prison 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 Purposeful activity hours 15.3 20.6 18.3 
			 Offending behaviour programmes 19 21 25 
			 Sex offender treatment programmes 0 0 0 
			 Random mandatory drug testing 25.6% 21.6% 20.5% 
			 Drug rehabilitation/therapeutic communities (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare Services (CARATS) (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 Detoxification (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 Basic skills awards—literacy (28)— (28)— 27 
			 Basic skills awards—numeracy (28)— (28)— 28 
			 Key work skills (28)— (28)— (28)— 
		
	
	(28) indicates that data for these indicators were not collected.
	
		
			 HM Prison Service England and Wales 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 Purposeful activity hours 22.8 23.2 23.8 
			 Offending behaviour programmes 3,129 4,664 5,986 
			 Sex offender treatment programmes 589 585 786 
			 Random mandatory drug testing 18.3% 14.2% 12.4% 
			 Drug rehabilitation/therapeutic communities (29)— (29)— (29)— 
			 Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare Services (CARATS) (29)— (29)— (29)— 
			 Detoxification (29)— (29)— (29)— 
			 Basic skills awards—literacy (29)— (29)— 7,269 
			 Basic skills awards—numeracy (29)— (29)— 5,495 
			 Key work skills (29)— (29)— (29)— 
		
	
	(29) Indicates that data were not collected centrally.

Data Retention

Richard Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the John Horrocks data retention report commissioned by his Department will be published.

John Denham: holding answer 26 October 2001
	The report has been completed and is currently being reviewed within Government. It will be submitted to Ministers. The report includes commercially sensitive information. A summary of its findings will be shared with industry contacts in November.

Speed Cameras

Bridget Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many speed cameras there are, broken down by county at the most recent date available; and what percentage in each case are operational.

John Denham: The Association of Chief Police Officers estimates that there are some 4,500 speed camera sites in England and Wales. Information on the percentage that are operational is not held centrally, nor is information on the number of speed cameras in each county.

Community Against Drugs Initiative

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the extent of consultation on the Community Against Drugs initiative.

Bob Ainsworth: Communities Against Drugs funding is paid to Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships. Partnerships are required to agree their spending plans with Drug Action Teams, and Home Office guidance identifies that other agencies and groups should be consulted in the development of these plans. We could not properly assess the extent of the consultation undertaken, by partnerships, until the end of 2001–02.

Crime and Disorder Act

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been made of racially aggravated offences under Part II of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

John Denham: Information for 1998 and 1999 was taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database showing the number of persons proceeded against for racially aggravated offences under Part II of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.
	Data for 2000 will be available later this year.
	
		Persons proceeded against for racially aggravated offences under -- Part II of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998—England and Wales
		
			  Proceeded against 
			 Offence description 1998(30) 1999 
		
		
			 Racially Aggravated Wounding or inflicting Grievous Bodily Harm 2 58 
			 Racially Aggravated Actual Bodily Harm 3 299 
			 Racially Aggravated Common Assault 6 367 
			 Racially Aggravated Criminal Damage 9 261 
			 Racially Aggravated Intentional Harassment, Alarm or Distress 3 430 
			 Racially Aggravated Offence of Harassment 3 113 
			 Racially Aggravated—Harassment; putting people in fear of violence 2 63 
			 Racially Aggravated fear or provocation of violence 5 317 
			  
			 Total 33 1,908 
		
	
	(30) Act came into effect in the last quarter of 1998

Race Relations Act

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been made by the police under section 70 of the Race Relations Act 1976 in respect of material or actions likely to incite racial hatred; how many resulted in convictions; and what penalties were imposed.

John Denham: Section 70 of the Race Relations Act 1976 was repealed by the Public Order Act 1986, where the provisions on incitement to racial hatred can now be found.
	Information provided by the Attorney-General's office showing the majority of the data requested—for the period 1997 to 2001 (to date)—is in the table.
	
		Offences of incitement to racial hatred under Part III of the Public Order Act 1986
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001(31) 
		
		
			 Number of consent applications 12 2 4 7 7 
			 Withdrawn — 1 — — — 
			 Not granted 2 — — — — 
			 Prosecuted 10 1 4 7 7 
			 Convicted 9 1 3 (32)4 (33)— 
		
	
	(31) To date
	(32) Two results awaited
	(33) Results awaited
	Source:
	Attorney-General's office

Asylum Seekers

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many unaccompanied minors who are classified as asylum seekers are under the protection of local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: Local authorities state that as of 26 January 2001 they were supporting 6,078 unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC). This consisted of 1,376 under 16-year-olds and 4,702 16 to 17 year-olds.

Holocaust Memorial Day

Tony Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans have been made by (a) his Department and (b) institutions involved in the preparations for Holocaust Memorial Day 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: Holocaust Memorial Day on Sunday 27 January 2002 will be marked by a national event and associated activities in schools and local communities around the country. Planning has involved wide consultation with schools, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), local authorities and other Government Departments. I plan to announce the full arrangements for Holocaust Memorial Day 2002 soon.

Probation Officers

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation officers there were in England and Wales at the latest date for which figures are available.

Beverley Hughes: There were 6,785 probation officers in post at 30 June 2001.

Childhood Abuse

Hilton Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of the physical and mental health of men and women in prison who have suffered childhood abuse;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of the incidence of abuse in the childhood of men and women in prison.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 29 October 2001
	We are unaware of any research that has been carried out across the whole of the prison population of England and Wales which would enable us to estimate the proportion that had been abused in childhood. Our general understanding however, from anecdotal and other evidence, is that the number of prisoners who had been abused would be significant.
	The Prison Service has information about the mental health of all prisoners and about the physical health of sentenced male prisoners aged 16 years and over, from surveys conducted by the Office for National Statistics and its predecessor, OPCS. However, it is not possible to extract the information for those prisoners who may have been abused in childhood.

Media Briefings

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since 10 June his Department gave briefings to the national media on announcements before their formal release; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: None.

Prison Population

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the present level of the prison population; and if it is his policy to increase this further.

Beverley Hughes: On 26 October 2001, there were 68,127 people in prisons in England and Wales. Within the sentencing framework set by Parliament, it is for the courts to determine who is sent to prison and for how long.

Police Establishment

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each local authority area in London (a) police establishment as of 31 March 1993, (b) police establishment as of 31 March 1997, (c) police establishment as of 31 March 2001, (d) police establishment as of 31 September 2001 and (e) projected target establishment for 31 March 2002.

John Denham: The information has been provided by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. The Metropolitan police is unable to provide budgeted police officer work force totals for 1993 and 1997. Actual strength figures are available for 31 December in each of those years, and with budgeted work force totals for March 2001 and September 2001 are set out in the table.
	The budgeted work force totals can be subject to change in the light of changes in circumstances.
	
		
			  Number of police officers Budgeted work force  
			 Division December 1993 December 1997 March 2001(34) September 2001(35) 
		
		
			 City of Westminster 1,901 1,697 1,580 1,642 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 655 609 557 577 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 548 542 517 539 
			 Camden 692 697 671 699 
			 Islington 568 549 554 584 
			 Harrow 277 289 295 311 
			 Brent 620 613 606 637 
			 Barnet 781 706 517 542 
			 Ealing 653 627 611 656 
			 Hillingdon 444 398 376 395 
			 Haringey 562 527 533 562 
			 Hackney 633 677 673 708 
			 Tower Hamlets 690 568 549 578 
			 Waltham Forest 474 464 453 474 
			 Redbridge 536 497 390 414 
			 Havering 375 334 320 334 
			 Newham 578 590 583 616 
			 Barking and Dagenham 287 300 279 294 
			 Enfield 550 550 478 515 
			 Southwark 850 861 801 839 
			 Lewisham 588 610 584 612 
			 Bromley 481 464 440 458 
			 Greenwich 518 612 586 613 
			 Bexley 273 282 310 328 
			 Croydon 580 601 549 595 
			 Sutton 390 405 254 270 
			 Lambeth 947 917 875 923 
			 Richmond upon Thames 321 283 260 274 
			 Hounslow 483 457 411 435 
			 Kingston upon Thames 396 367 256 272 
			 Merton 312 293 290 303 
			 Wandsworth 693 596 555 586 
			  
			 Total 18,656 17,982 16,713 17,585 
			 Heathrow airport(36) 424 362 304 301 
			  
			 Divisional total 19,080 18,344 17,017 17,886 
		
	
	(34) Figures are full-time equivalents
	(35) The budgeted work force total for each London borough division is set at the start of the financial year. Projected figures for 31 March 2002 are therefore the same as those for 30 September 2001
	(36) These police posts are paid by Heathrow Airport plc

Child Abuse

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many care homes have been investigated since 1997 in the historical abuse investigations in each police authority area;
	(2)  what recent research he has undertaken to evaluate the pre-trial procedures in connection with sex abuse inquiries; what recent work he has undertaken to measure the difference in the impact on the rights and liberties of persons accused or suspected of sex abuse crimes from the impact on the rights and liberties of those accused of other offences; what analyses he has carried out on the impact of compensation on the reporting of sex abuse crimes; what recent assessment he has made of police investigative powers in relation to people accused of sex abuse; how many applicants for criminal injuries compensation relating to sex abuse are serving a prison sentence; what steps he takes to advertise the availability of compensation; what assistance police have received from solicitors acting on behalf of victims with respect to sex abuse inquiries; and if he will make a statement on the controls imposed on the police while interviewing (a) suspects and (b) witnesses and on the reasons for the differences between treatment of both groups;
	(3)  how many suspects have been identified in connection with historical institutional child abuse investigations, broken down by police authority and since 1997; on what basis in each such area persons have been regarded as suspects; how many such individuals have been (a) arrested, (b) charged, (c) convicted and (d) acquitted; how many pleaded (i) not guilty and (ii) guilty; how many who pleaded in (i) and (ii) were convicted; of those arrested how many had no further action taken against them; how many individuals who were convicted appealed against their (x) conviction and (y) sentence; how many appeals were successful and, in each case, on what basis and how many failed and, in each case, on what basis; how many complaints of sexual abuse in such cases, broken down by authority were referred to the CPS; what percentage of the complaints received were so referred; how many cases the CPS accepted; what was the basis of each rejection; of the persons charged, how long they (A) waited and (B) were waiting before they came to trial; of the persons arrested, how many persons are on police bail; how many separate complaints have been received; how many complainants there are; how many of the victims have (aa) served and (bb) are serving time in prison; how many victims have applied for compensation; how much each individual has received in (1) 1997, (2) 1998, (3) 1999 and (4) 2000; and how many applications for compensation are outstanding.

John Denham: holding answer 31 October 2001
	Information is not collected centrally on the number of investigations into institutional child abuse, on the number of care homes involved in such investigations, or on the numbers of people arrested, charged or convicted as a result. A survey carried out in 1998–99 on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Crime Committee established that 32 forces in England and Wales had been investigating claims of institutional child abuse or were doing so during the period covered by the questionnaire, (1 January 1998 to 30 June 1999). Many of the remaining forces stated that they had been engaged in such inquiries at other times. A similar survey was carried out by ACPO earlier this year to which 32 forces responded. During the period covered by this survey (1997 to 2000) those 32 forces detailed 96 investigations (some of which may have involved more than one institution) which had led to 543 arrests. Of the 1,197 referrals made to the Crown Prosecution Service no further action was taken in 940 cases. The survey revealed 193 successful prosecutions and 40 acquittals. Details of these individual cases are not centrally held.
	The information retained by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (CICB) cannot be extrapolated to provide the information requested. Records are not kept regarding current or previous imprisonment of any applicants for criminal injuries compensation, and information held by the CICB cannot identify those who have applied for compensation following an allegation of historical institutional child abuse. There are no steps taken in such cases to advertise the availability of compensation to victims. If the police or social workers are asked about compensation they will advise the alleged victim to seek independent legal advice. For the vast majority of complainants compensation is not a motivating factor. Victims are seeking justice, not compensation.
	The police have a duty to investigate all allegations of child abuse thoroughly, and to undertake a complete investigation in accordance with the law.
	They are acutely aware of the need to ensure that their investigative procedures in these cases incorporate the necessary safeguards against false allegations, while fulfilling their duty to ensure that those who have committed serious crimes against young people in care do not escape justice. Discussions have taken place with ACPO and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary about what more can be done to ensure that the procedures in place for conducting these very difficult investigations are fair and robust.
	ACPO are currently drawing up a manual for senior investigating officers working in child abuse cases, which will include a section on good practice in tracing potential witnesses and obtaining corroborative evidence. In parallel with this, an inter-agency working group is developing guidance to the police and social services on the handling of complex abuse investigations.
	Both sets of best practice guidance should be completed shortly. Together they will provide a coherent policy framework for how to conduct child abuse investigations, building on best practice drawn from around the country and ensuring that the necessary procedures are in place to safeguard against the risk of false allegations.

Cannabis Plantations

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many legal cannabis plantations there are in the UK; and what plans there are to increase this number.

Bob Ainsworth: The cultivation of cannabis (hemp) for industrial purposes is licensed, per growing site, on an annual basis to cover that particular year's growing season. This year, 119 such licences have been issued. There is no restriction on the number of growers or growing sites that may be licensed during any particular year. Any increase or decrease in the number of licences issued would be influenced by commercial decisions and the ability of growers to meet the licence criteria.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Morganatic Marriages

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make it her policy to introduce legislation further amending the Regency Act 1937, and to amend the Royal Marriages Act 1772, to permit members of the Royal Family to enter into morganatic marriages.

Rosie Winterton: There are no plans to do so.

Community Legal Service Funding

Brian White: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to change the way applications for exceptional Community Legal Service funding are handled; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: The Lord Chancellor has today announced a number of changes to the way applications for exceptional Community Legal Service (CLS) funding will be handled. These changes are designed to make it easier for applicants to obtain funding in cases that would normally be outside the scope of the CLS. They follow on from the recent case of R v. the Legal Services Commission and the Lord Chancellor ex parte Jarrett, and from our experience of handling exceptional cases.
	The main changes are as follows.
	A new test has been added to the existing criteria for obtaining exceptional funding. Previously, apart from satisfying the standard Funding Code criteria, applicants had to show that their cases raised matters of significant wider public interest or were of overwhelming importance to them. Now, it will also be practically impossible for the applicant to proceed or there would be obvious unfairness.
	Different criteria have been developed for inquests. This is because these cases are different from standard court cases, the criteria for which are not always suitable. For example, there is no need for a test of overwhelming importance, since the death of a loved one will always be of overwhelming importance. The test for inquests is instead whether the family of the deceased need representation in order to help the coroner carry out the task of determining the cause of death.
	The Legal Services Commission has been authorised to grant funding in certain types of inquest without having to seek the Lord Chancellor's authority in each individual case. This will make the application process shorter and more convenient for the bereaved. The cases in question are those where the death has occurred in police or prison custody, or during the course of police arrest, search, pursuit or shooting.
	These changes reflect the Government's continuing commitment to human rights. Although the court did not find against the Government or the Legal Services Commission in Mrs. Jarrett's case, it encouraged us to reconsider our guidance on exceptional cases, which the Lord Chancellor has been happy to do. The new test for obtaining exceptional funding will make a major contribution towards achieving access to justice for people whose cases are complex or difficult, or who have particular problems that legal representation can help with. At the same time, the new arrangements for handling applications in inquests will improve the service we are able to give bereaved applicants, at a time when it is important for us to be as supportive as possible.